Côte d’Ivoire has officially become the newest member of the Arab Africa Trade Bridges (AATB) Program, reinforcing its commitment to strengthening economic ties with Arab and African nations and advancing regional integration initiatives.
The Membership Agreement was signed during the 5th AATB Board of Governors Meeting in Abuja, hosted by the Federal Government of Nigeria. The ceremony saw Eng. Nasser Al-Thekair, GM Trade & Business Development at the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC), and Mr. Clement Kouakou, Deputy Director of the Ministerial Cabinet, Ministry of Economy, Planning and Development of Côte d’Ivoire, formalize the country’s accession.
Through this partnership, Côte d’Ivoire and the AATB will collaborate to develop the Côte d’Ivoire Country Program, a strategic framework designed to promote trade, investment, and export competitiveness. Key areas of focus will include industrial upgrading, logistics capacity development, quality infrastructure, and digital trade readiness.
Practical interventions under the program are expected to feature feasibility studies for quality control laboratories, support for e-commerce platforms targeting export products, skills development in the logistics sector, and B2B matchmaking for priority value chains such as construction and agri-food industries.
Côte d’Ivoire’s inclusion in the AATB program underscores the country’s dedication to trade-led growth, value chain integration, and strengthening regional connectivity. The move also highlights AATB’s ongoing commitment to deepening partnerships across Africa to drive sustainable economic development.
