Q: How would you characterise Côte d’Ivoire’s model of economic development?
A: For us, it’s really about consolidating the peace and stability that we have regained since the end of the civil war. The economy of Côte d’Ivoire has been based, for a long period, on agriculture: we are the world’s leading producer of cocoa, cashew nuts and various other agricultural commodities. There is a great diversification within our agriculture, and we are now engaging in a sustained effort to increase the domestic processing of these commodities because it generates jobs.
