The sixth meeting of the National Monitoring Committee (CNS) of the Trade Facilitation Programme was held this Wednesday, May 6, 2026 in Abidjan, with the ambition of consolidating achievements and giving new impetus to the reforms undertaken to facilitate trade in Côte d’Ivoire.
Led by the Ivorian government with the support of TradeMark Africa, this strategic meeting provided an opportunity to assess the progress made since the previous session. This includes the gradual digitalization of trade procedures, the strengthening of administrative capacities, and the improved performance of logistics corridors.
Reforms at the heart of competitiveness
Representing the Minister of Trade, Industry and Handicrafts, Tuo Siriki, who chaired the ceremony, emphasized the importance of trade facilitation as a driver of economic transformation. He stated that these reforms help reduce transaction times and costs, while simultaneously strengthening business competitiveness and enhancing the country’s attractiveness.
He also recalled Côte d’Ivoire’s commitment to major initiatives such as the African Continental Free Trade Area, which requires increased modernization of trade systems and better regional integration.
A momentum to be consolidated
Despite significant progress, challenges remain, including non-tariff barriers, border delays, and still-high logistical costs. The meeting therefore emphasized the need for rigorous monitoring of reforms and a strengthening of public-private dialogue.
Anthé Vrijlandt, Senior Director for West Africa at TradeMark Africa,
welcomed the quality of cooperation with the Ivorian authorities. However, she stressed the urgent need to improve the effective use of existing border control mechanisms to alleviate the burden on both large companies and small traders, who are often the most vulnerable to border disruptions.
Heading towards 2026–2027
TradeMark Africa’s national coordinator, Kouakou Félix Assiènin , for his part, took stock of ongoing actions, including the interconnection of customs systems with Ghana, the strengthening of the Single Window for foreign trade and investments in infrastructure and sanitary quality.
At the end of the work, the participants validated the main directions of the 2026 work plan, with an emphasis on digitalisation, logistical connectivity and regional integration.
A strong regional ambition:
This sixth session of the National Strategic Council (CNS) marks a key step in Côte d’Ivoire’s ambition to establish itself as a leading logistics and trade hub in West Africa. It paves the way for a new phase of reforms, more inclusive and geared towards concrete results for economic stakeholders
By strengthening coordination between government, the private sector and technical partners, the country intends to sustainably transform its business environment and stimulate more competitive and integrated growth.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article or report do not necessarily reflect those of TradeMark Africa (TMA).
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