(Business in Cameroon) - In December 31, 2013, trade between Cameroon and Cote d’Ivoire reached 155.3 billion FCFA, compared to only 11 billion FCFA in 2011 and 33 billion up to December 31, 2012. This was just revealed by Ivorian Ambassador, Adama Dosso, now close to the end of his tenure, at farewell visit to the General Directorate of the Investment Promotion Agency (API).

For two years, economic cooperation has been accelerating with the reactivation in March 2014 of the mixed commission between the two countries after a 33 year sabbatical. In the last meetings held in Abidjan, Cameroon and Côte d’Ivoire have signed 10 economic cooperation agreements.

In October 2013 in Douala, the economic capital of Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire held the “Ivorian week in Cameroon” which was attended by 50 exhibitors. In February 2014, the Cameroonian business leader organisation, GICAM, which had asked that the Ivorian government provide over 24 acres of land for the setting up of Cameroonian companies. It was in the margins of the “Invest in Cote d’Ivoire” forum during which Ivorian and Cameroonian business leaders decided to promote the creation of joint-ventures in order to conquer the West and Central African public markets together.