This agreement will reinforce the existing partnership between the two parties as they celebrate the 10th anniversary of their Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA). Together, the two instruments will facilitate trade, encourage sustainable investment and contribute to long-term, inclusive economic development in Côte d’Ivoire, the third-largest economy in West Africa.
This reflects the EU’s commitment to widening trusted economic partnerships. At a time of increasing geopolitical uncertainty and fragmentation of the global economy, the EU is working with global partners to foster sustainable growth, improve the investment climate and create new opportunities for businesses.
The future bilateral SIFA will create a more transparent, predictable, and efficient investment climate for EU businesses in sectors with significant growth potential, including renewable energy, agri-food value chains, digital innovation, fisheries, transport and logistics, and critical raw materials.
By improving the business environment, the agreement will help diversify Côte d’Ivoire’s economy and create new opportunities for both EU investors and local businesses. This will complement the preferential trade regime put in place by the interim Economic Partnership Agreement between Côte d’Ivoire and the EU and enable both parties to increase the benefits they derive from it.
Building on the joint Sustainable Cocoa Initiative, and given the importance of cocoa for both Côte d’Ivoire and the partnership with the EU, discussions under the SIFA will also aim to strengthen cooperation on sustainable investment, traceability, and resilient cocoa value chains.
Yesterday, the EU and Côte d’Ivoire held the 8th EPA Committee discussions which reaffirmed the shared commitment to fully implement EPA and to strengthen the EU-Côte d’Ivoire trade and investment relationship. Discussions in the EPA Committee also covered topics such as tariff liberalisation, better market access, customs work, intellectual property, cooperation projects, and involvement of civil society.
Background
On 12 June 2025, the Council of the European Union adopted a decision authorising the Commission to open negotiations on an agreement on investment facilitation on behalf of the European Union with Côte d’Ivoire.
The EU is Côte d’Ivoire’s leading trade and investment partner. In 2024, the stock of EU foreign direct investment in Côte d’Ivoire reached €3.8 billion. According to an EU investment mapping, most of EU investment in Côte d’Ivoire goes to the services sector (approx. 60%, including construction, energy services, transportation and distribution), followed by manufacturing (around 20%), and agriculture (around 15%, including cocoa).
The EU accounts for more than 40% of total foreign direct investment in the country and around 27% of Côte d’Ivoire’s total trade. During the 10 years of the EPA’s provisional application, bilateral trade increased by 126% and helped diversify Ivorian exports. For instance, in the cocoa sector, the percentage of processed products increased from 32% to 42% of total cocoa exports.
SIFAs are designed to help enhance the investment climate of a partnering country of the EU by supporting transparency, good governance, reducing bureaucratic obstacles, and promoting responsible and sustainable business practices. These agreements contribute to the objectives of the European Commission’s Competition Compass of 29 January 2025, which called for new ways of deepening partnerships and creating benefits for businesses.
