Experts say Côte d’Ivoire is the best alternative for investments in Africa

In the eyes of some investors, Côte d’Ivoire presents itself as a serious alternative for investment in Africa, in a context where the fall in commodity prices has struck a blow to the economies of the top five African powers (Nigeria, Egypt , South Africa, Angola and Ethiopia).

“We prefer diversified economies like the Ivory Coast, which has one of the highest growth rates in emerging markets,” said Mark Baker, chief investment officer for fixed income products in emerging markets, on behalf of the British insurer Standard Life, according to comments reported by Bloomberg. “We have confidence in the political decision-makers who seem to be doing a good job there, and the ratio of public debt to GDP is indeed falling, which is very rare in this region,” added the investor.

Hurley Doddy, one of the founding partners and co-directors of the private equity firm Emerging Capital Partners, said, “Côte d’Ivoire has experienced robust growth in the past two years, and this should continue.” From his point of view, also reported by Bloomberg, the leading economy in the WAEMU zone is above all the best positioned among the countries of French-speaking sub-Saharan Africa. Because of the attachment of their currencies (FCFA) to the European currency (Euro), the French-speaking countries, explains Doddy, resist much better the monetary challenges related to the rise of American rates and the fall of the prices of the raw materials which know African countries as a whole.

Recall that Standard Life manages $ 1.4 billion in bond assets in emerging countries, including $ 98 million in Africa.

As for Emerging Capital Partners, they have been present in the region for fifteen years. Its Eranove branch will continue to progress in Côte d’Ivoire, at least until the liberalization of the water and energy sectors desired by President Alassane Ouattara. In 2015, ECP took a significant option in the NSIA Bank CI group which is continuing a sustained expansion, as does the Togolese Orabank group in which ECP also has a stake.

Agenceecofin