Yamoussoukro, July 10 (IANS) Additional Secretary (Central and West Africa) in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Sevala Naik Mude, on Friday met Ivory Coast’s Minister of Digital Transition and Technological Innovation, Djibril Ouattara, in Abidjan.
The Embassy of India in Ivory Coast wrote on X that, on the sidelines of the Consultative Group meetings on Côte d’Ivoire’s National Development Plan 2026–2030, Mude met with the Minister of Digital Transition and Technological Innovation, Djibril Ouattara, in Abidjan. Discussions focused on India’s Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), including UPI and Aadhaar, as well as opportunities for bilateral cooperation through the signing of an MoU.
Appreciating India’s digital transformation, the Minister expressed keen interest in learning from India’s successful digital ecosystem and exploring opportunities to adapt and implement similar digital solutions in the Ivory Coast.
Mude also met Bruno Mabagne Kone on Thursday and discussed boosting agricultural cooperation through farm mechanisation, capacity building, improved seed varieties, and agro-processing.
The Embassy said that on July 9, 2026, Mude met Cote d’Ivoire’s Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Food Production, Bruno Nabagné Koné, in Abidjan. Discussions focused on boosting agricultural cooperation through farm mechanisation, capacity building, improved seed varieties, and agro-processing.
He briefed the Minister about Indian companies’ investment in the agro-processing sector in Côte d’Ivoire, particularly in cashew, rubber, rice, and other agricultural industries. The Minister welcomed further collaboration, including agricultural machinery supply and tractor assembly initiatives, and invited presentations from Indian companies.
The Additional Secretary also met with the Minister of Trade, Industry and Handicrafts and discussed deepening bilateral trade and investment.
The Embassy said that, on the sidelines of the Consultative Group meetings for the Financing of Côte d’Ivoire’s National Development Plan (2026–2030), Mude called on the Minister of Trade, Industry and Handicrafts, Ibrahim Kalil Konate, in Abidjan on July 9, 2026. Discussions focused on deepening bilateral trade investments.
He also met Yapi Koffi Évariste, Secretary General, Ministry of State, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and discussed further strengthening the longstanding bilateral relations between India and Côte d’Ivoire.
The Embassy stated on X that on July 9, 2026, Mude met Yapi Koffi Évariste, Secretary General of the Ministry of State for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, in Abidjan. The discussions focused on further strengthening the longstanding bilateral relations between India and Cote d’Ivoire through enhanced diplomatic engagement.
On Wednesday, Mude met Tene Birahima Ouattara, Vice-Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, and discussed strengthening and expanding bilateral defence cooperation.
–IANS
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