The visit Indian President Pranab Mukherjee is paying to Côte Ivoire as of Tuesday is said to consolidate ties and boost increasing trade exchanges between the two countries.
The visit takes place as trade exchanges between the West African country and the Asian giant have been steadily increasing, as figures recorded between 2009 and 2015 point at more than a two-fold increase, $300 million to $800 million.
On the eve of the visit, India, through its import-export bank, Exim Bank, granted the Ivorian government a $113 million loan earmarked for the purchase of 500 India-made TATA buses to be used for city transport in the Ivorian capital; Abidjan, as reported on le360.ma
Indian companies have also found fertile ground in the sub-Sahara country. President Mukherjee and his host Alassane Ouattara will also attend an international forum of both countries’ business people on Wednesday.
The two heads of state will also oversee the signing of an accord for the establishment of a branch of the Indian Exim Bank in Abidjan. The Ivorian capital will be the third African capital after Johannesburg and Addis Abeba to house the Indian establishment.
President Pranab Mukherjee’s visit to Côte d’Ivoire, the first ever of an Indian President to Cote d’Ivoire since the two countries established diplomatic relations, is the second leg of a three-nation tour meant to boost India’s relations with African countries.
On Monday he was in Ghana where he held talks with President John Dramani Mahama. He will end his tour by a visit to Namibia.