Côte d'ivoire Country Commercial Guide
Learn about the market conditions, opportunities, regulations, and business conditions in côte d'ivoire, prepared by at U.S. Embassies worldwide by Commerce Department, State Department and other U.S. agencies’ professionals
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Selling to the Public Sector
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Selling to the Government

Côte d’Ivoire offers numerous opportunities for U.S. firms in sectors such as power and energy (including grid expansion, renewables, and rural electrification), ICT and digital infrastructure, healthcare (hospital equipment, diagnostics, digital health systems), transport infrastructure (roads, ports, logistics hubs), and water & sanitation. These sectors are financed by the government and often linked to large investment programs, presenting entry points for U.S. exporters of goods and services.

To be competitive, U.S. companies should focus not only on pricing but also on value-added elements such as training of local personnel, comprehensive after-sales service, spare parts supply, technology transfer, and capacity building.

The National Regulatory Authority for Public Procurement (Autorité Nationale de Régulation des Marchés Publics, ANRMP) regulates public procurement, overseeing bidding, awarding, auditing, and sanctioning non-compliance. Bidding procedures typically include public tender announcements, bidder registration, submission of bid documents (often in French), evaluation, and award. While use of an Ivoirian local presence is not legally required, many contracts favor companies with local representation or partnerships.

Differences exist between central government procurement (national ministries, large tenders), regional (districts or regions), and local (municipalities) purchases. Smaller contracts may have simplified processes but lower visibility. U.S. firms should monitor tender portals, understand the procurement level, and evaluate local partner or incorporation requirements in advance.
Côte d’Ivoire is not a party to the WTO Agreement on Government Procurement and does not have a free trade agreement with the United States that includes government procurement commitments. Therefore, U.S. companies rely on domestic tender rules, local partner structures, and U.S. government advocacy to support market access.

For projects financed by multilateral lending institutions, such as the World Bank and the African Development Bank, BNETD usually acts as an executing agency representing the ministry involved. There is a charge for the bid documents, which are generally in French. Government payments are centralized through the Banque Nationale d’Investissement (BNI), which acts as the government’s bank.

U.S. companies bidding on foreign government tenders may also qualify for U.S. Government advocacy. Within the U.S. Commerce Department’s International Trade Administration, the Advocacy Center coordinates U.S. Government interagency advocacy efforts on behalf of U.S. exporters in competition with foreign firms in foreign government projects or procurement opportunities. The Advocacy Center works closely with our network of the U.S. Commercial Service worldwide and inter-agency partners to ensure that exporters of U.S. products and services have the best possible chance of winning government contracts. Advocacy assistance can take many forms but often involves the U.S. Embassy or other U.S. Government agency officials expressing support for the U.S. exporters directly to the foreign government. Consult the Advocacy Center’s program web page for additional information.    

Financing Projects

Côte d’Ivoire is a significant borrower from multilateral development banks (MDBs), including the African Development Bank, the World Bank, and the International Finance Corporation (IFC). Large infrastructure and social projects are often financed through loans, credit guarantees, or co-financing from MDBs. For example, the African Development Bank provided a €400 million partial credit guarantee in 2023 to mobilize financing for strategic projects in energy, water, education, and social infrastructure. Medium- to long-term infrastructure projects are typically financed through MDBs rather than commercial banks, which generally offer shorter-term loans primarily to large, creditworthy private companies.

Multilateral lending institutions provide corporate and project finance solutions—including loans, lines of credit, guarantees, and risk management products—that help U.S. exporters and their local partners secure financing for large-scale projects in infrastructure, energy, healthcare, and other development sectors. U.S. exporters participating in MDB-financed projects should understand that project financing may involve long amortization periods, local currency requirements, and strict compliance with environmental, social, and governance standards. Partnerships with local firms, familiarity with MDB procurement procedures, and strong project management capabilities enhance competitiveness.

Additional support may be available through U.S. government-backed programs. The U.S. Export-Import Bank (EXIM) offers financing for eligible foreign buyers, while the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) provides project financing and investment support. The U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) may also fund feasibility studies, technical assistance, or pilot projects depending on the project structure and ownership. In 2024, DFC appointed its first regional representative for West Africa, demonstrating its commitment to expanding investment throughout Côte d’Ivoire.

Multilateral Development Banks and Financing Government Sales 

Price, payment terms, and financing can be significant factors in winning a government contract.  Many governments finance public works projects through borrowing from the Multilateral Development Banks (MDB). A helpful guide for working with the MDBs is the Guide to Doing Business with the Multilateral Development Banks (PDF) The U.S. Department of Commerce’s (USDOC) International Trade Administration (ITA) has a Foreign Commercial Service Officer stationed at each of the five different Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs): the African Development Bank (based in Abidjan); the Asian Development Bank; the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development; the Inter-American Development Bank; and the World Bank.

Learn more by contacting the: 

The U.S. Commercial Service’s Commercial Liaison Office to the African Development Bank is in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.  See the Commercial Services’ African Development Bank resources and contact telephone: + 225 05 54 001 241. 

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