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Podcast: Côte d’Ivoire Positions for Growth Amid Global Uncertainty
In a new episode of the Africa Legal podcast, Dr Francky Lukanda of Ofori Conseils Africa LLP, which operates throughout the OHADA zone, chats with Scott Cowan about how Côte d’Ivoire is utilising sovereign investment reforms, logistics modernisation and regulatory clarity to respond to global economic disruption
Côte d’Ivoire is strengthening its position as one of Francophone Africa’s leading investment destinations, says Dr Francky Lukanda, who joined Ofori Conseils Africa LLP as a partner earlier this year, and leads the Abidjan-based firm’s Banking & Finance, Infrastructure, and Natural Resources practices.
Resilience, Lukanda tells Africa Legal co-founder and CEO Scott Cowan in a new podcast episode, is a driving force behind many of Côte d’Ivoire’s recent reforms. The West African nation is responding to global economic challenges through sovereign investment reforms, modernisation of logistics, and regularity clarity.
While conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East have exposed vulnerabilities across African economies, particularly around energy prices, supply chains and commodity access, Côte d’Ivoire has accelerated efforts to strengthen its domestic economy while remaining attractive to foreign investors.
“For an investor looking to expand into Francophone Africa while minimising risk, I believe Côte d’Ivoire would be at the top of the list,” says Lukanda.
In the new episode, Lukanda and Cowan explore Côte d’Ivoire’s proposed sovereign fund, which is expected to operate across three pillars (stabilisation, savings, and development) and mitigate macroeconomic shocks while supporting infrastructure investment and future generations. Implementing regulations will be closely watched by investors seeking opportunities in infrastructure and project finance.
The conversation also touched on Côte d’Ivoire’s labour reforms, the government’s positioning of the Port of Abidjan as a leading regional maritime hub, the impact of banking reforms on capital inflows into the WAEMU region, and how Côte d’Ivoire can translate natural resource growth into broader economic development while maintaining infrastructure, investor confidence, and long-term stability.