Faq
What resources are available for companies interested in doing business in Cote d’Ivoire?
The U.S. Embassy offers a range of services to help U.S. companies and investors interested in doing business in Cote d’Ivoire. Services are provided on a case by case basis and as is possible given current Embassy staffing and resource level. Our most popular services include: briefings on economic and political conditions, support for companies bidding on government and semi-government projects, and screening local partners.
What resources are available for companies interested in doing business in the United States?
At this time Embassy services are limited to U.S. companies and investors. Invest in America is the primary U.S. Government mechanism to manage foreign direct investment promotion. Efforts are focused on outreach to foreign governments and investors, support for state governments’ investment promotion efforts, and addressing business climate concerns by serving as ombudsman in Washington for the international investment community.
The "Invest in America" initiative, found at http://trade.gov/investamerica/, contains resources for foreign companies looking to expand into America.
Where do I find information about exporting under AGOA?
The USAID West Africa Trade Hub in collaboration with Cote d’Ivoire’s Export Promotion Agency (APEX-CI) have opened the AGOA resource center for local producers interested in exporting their goods to the United States under the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).
More information about AGOA and the USAID West Africa Trade Hub’s AGOA resource center can be found on the Trade Hub’s website http://www.agoatoolkit.com/agoa/English/html/
I have been the victim of an international financial scam.
The U.S. embassy in Abidjan warns all Americans engaging in financial transactions in Cote d’Ivoire to exercise extreme caution before handing over any money. Con artists can be very creative and very determined. Be skeptical. Do not send anyone money unless you are certain that it is a legitimate request - even if you think you know the person well based on your Internet correspondence.
In Cote d’Ivoire reports of losses by American citizens have been low, but American citizens in the West African region have been the targets of numerous scams. If you are the victim of a scam, you are very unlikely to recover any of your losses, and local authorities have limited means with which to investigate and prosecute offenders.
You may also contact the Embassy as your report will help us in our interactions with the Ivoirian government to protect other Americans from these scams. However, please keep in mind that the Embassy cannot arrest or initiate lawsuits against perpetrators in Cote d’Ivoire, nor can the Embassy recover your lost money.
For more information, please see the Department of State's brochure at http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/financial_scams/financial_scams_3155.html
Are there sanctions against doing business in Cote d’Ivoire?
The Cote d’Ivoire sanctions program is administered by the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (‘OFAC’). An overview of the current sanctions can be found here http://www.treasury.gov/about/organizational-structure/offices/Pages/Office-of-Foreign-Assets-Control.aspx