The agreement, signed by APEX-CI Director General Guy M’Bengue and CCPIT Vice Chairman Liu Wenjie, calls for frequent contacts and exchange of information between China and Côte d’Ivoire; cooperation between the industrial and commercial circles of the two countries; organization of training programmes for the staff of both institutions; and exchange of experts.
The partnership agreement followed meetings between Mr. M’Bengue and his counterparts from the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) to discuss Côte d’Ivoire’s future eligibility for direct Asian investment in strategic export sectors that are exempt from United States import tax and quotas.
Côte d’Ivoire eligible for AGOA measures
Following nine months of talks, Côte d’Ivoire became eligible for special market access measures under the United States’ African Growth and Opportunities Act (AGOA) in May 2002. The Act helps exporters from eligible sub-Saharan African countries to enter the American market by removing tax and quota restrictions from exports in various sectors.
The Government of Côte d’Ivoire has acclaimed the “determining role” of the private sector — under the leadership of APEX-CI and Guy M’Bengue — in its AGOA negotiations with the United States.
Côte d’Ivoire Export Promotion Agency
- Mandate: Executing agency for joint export promotion programmes of the private sector and the Government of Côte d’Ivoire.
- Institutional positioning: Private association created by the World Bank, the private sector and the Government of Côte d’Ivoire.
- Founded: 1996, operational 1999.
- Location: Abidjan.
- Funding: World Bank, Government of Côte d’Ivoire, private firms, charges for services.
- Staff: 25.
- Of interest: Joint public-private management board, with the private sector in the majority.
Côte d’Ivoire Export Promotion Agency (APEX-CI),
Immeuble CCIA, 3ème étage, 01 B.P. 3485, Abidjan 01, Côte d’Ivoire
Tel.: +225 2031 5700
Fax: +225 2021 7576
E-mail: marketing@apexci.org
Web site: http://www.apexci.org
For more information, contact: Guy M’Bengue, Director General, APEX-CI, at mbengue@apexci.org.
Networking among Caribbean TPOs
"We very much appreciate the collaboration given to us by the International Trade Centre. This type of meeting allows all of us to improve our knowledge in the field of development and export promotion.
"Next year in the first half of June, we are going to organize a Caribbean Conference of Trade Promotion Organization in Santiago de Cuba. We would be very pleased for ITC to participate".
Olena Navas Pérez, General Manager, Centro para la Promoción de Las Exportaciones de Cuba (CEPEC) E-mail: cepecdir@infocex.cu
Working together
"I would like to express my sincere gratitude for the great contribution of ITC to the 4th World Conference of Trade Promotion Organizations. I heartily congratulate you on the success of the conference. The conference was enjoyable, extremely stimulating and fruitful.
"I believe that the relationship between ITC and JETRO will be further enhanced in the future. I hope we can work together for the development of global trade and economy".
Hiroshi Yokokawa, Executive Vice President, Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) E-mail: webmaster@jetro.go.jp
