Funded by the Korea  International Cooperation Agency (Koica) and implemented by Itc, this project aims to build the capacity of 24 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) or  women-led cooperatives in Côte d'Ivoire.

Ms. Koné Yah Mariama congratulated Itc and Koica for this contribution to the development of the cashew, shea and cassava sectors in Côte d'Ivoire. For her, this project will make it possible to considerably enhance the value of agricultural products processed by companies in the selected sectors. "At a time when Côte d'Ivoire is beginning its industrialization, this project is very timely.

Because it will  strengthen competitiveness and inclusion in these sectors but also increase opportunities for the 24 selected companies that are managed or led mainly by women from Côte d'Ivoire," she said.

This project, according to the representative of Minister Souleymane Diarrassouba, is in line with  the national export strategy put in place by the government through the strengthening of competitiveness of exporting companies. This is why it invites beneficiaries to take full advantage of this opportunity offered to them through the "She Trades West Africa" project.

The National Coordinator of the "She Trades West Africa" project, Daouda Yao, stressed that the goal by 2023 is to improve the living conditions of  10 thousand women through inclusive value chains  in Côte d'Ivoire, in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. Thus, the cashew, cassava  and shea sectors have been selected for Côte d'Ivoire; cashew and cassava for Sierra Leone; cassava for Liberia and shea for Guinea.

"In Côte d'Ivoire, the project will strengthen the capacities of 14 SMEs in the cashew sector; 5 in the Shea sector and 5 in the cassava sector. In addition, it will provide support to 2500 agricultural households," said Daouda Yao.

He urged the SMEs benefiting from this project to be assiduous in the various trainings and to put the knowledge acquired into practice in their different companies. The national coordinator of the "She Trades West Africa" project wants a lasting partnership between the ICC and the ITC.

The Vice-President, Maguiraga Bakary, on behalf of the President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Côte d'Ivoire, Faman Touré, welcomed  this initiative. For him, this program is in line with the missions of the CCI-ci, in particular "support to the actors of Ivorian private sector companies in which SMEs constitute the most important fringe with a rate of  nearly 90%".

Continuing, Mr. Maguiraga Bakary said that the ICC-ci will be responsible, within the framework of the partnership signed with the ITC,  to implement capacity building sessions  for the benefit of the selected beneficiary companies.

According to him, the training will last six months, that is to say from November 2020 to May 2021. To this end, beneficiaries will be trained on accounting, trade, law and taxation, access to loans and finance, and business development. "I would therefore like to urge all beneficiaries to make the most of this program to ensure the competitiveness of their businesses," urged the faman Touré representative  .