The Swiss voice in the world since 1935

Swiss focus on scientific collaboration with Ivory Coast

A working holding a bunch of cocoa beans
Switzerland is the third biggest investor in the country, particularly importing its cocoa beans. Cocoa, the main ingredient of chocolate, is a highly profitable crop in West Africa. Keystone

Swiss Economics Minister Johann Schneider-Ammann on Sunday ended a two-day visit to Ivory Coast, looking at opportunities to strengthen scientific cooperation between the two countries.

Ivory Coast is Switzerland’s eighth most important trading partner in Africa and more than 30 Swiss companies are located in the West African country. Switzerland directly invested more than CHF300 million ($317 million) into the country in 2017.

Schneider-Ammann signed an agreement that will strengthen and financially secure future cooperation between a local research centre and Swiss universities, reported the Swiss News Agency on Monday.

The Centre Suisse de Recherches Scientifiques en Côte d’IvoireExternal link (CSRS) was established more than 60 years ago with the aim of boosting Swiss-African Research Cooperation. Schneider-Ammann visited the centre and said it was a “model for international cooperation”.

+Learn more about cocoa sustainability in Switzerland  

Reliance on exports

Schneider-Ammann also held various ministerial talks and was informed locally about several projects and priorities. The Swiss delegation also met local business representatives as well as the country’s chamber of commerce.

The African Development BankExternal link is concerned about the inadequate infrastructure, youth unemployment as well as the region’s exports dependency.

Switzerland is the third biggest investor in the country, particularly importing its cocoa beans.

Schneider-Ammann was accompanied by a group of Swiss parliamentarians, members of cantonal governments and business representatives. He had previously visited Nigeria. His delegation’s trip to Ivory Coast concludes the Swiss state visit to Africa.

More

More

When cocoa farmers meet chocolate makers

This content was published on What happens when a group of cocoa farmers from Peru launch a chocolate label but have never made chocolate before? They fly to Switzerland.

Read more: When cocoa farmers meet chocolate makers

Popular Stories

Most Discussed

News

Only one in five people attend a religious service at Easter

More

Just one in five Swiss attend a religious service at Easter

This content was published on Only one in five people in Switzerland attend a religious service during the Easter period or give up meat or alcohol for at least one day of fasting. Around 25% of those polled see Easter primarily as a family holiday, according to the survey.

Read more: Just one in five Swiss attend a religious service at Easter
Posters condemning Stephan Schmidheiny's role in asbestos deaths in Italy.

More

Swiss businessman gets prison term for asbestos deaths

This content was published on Stephan Schmidheiny has been sentenced to 9 years and 6 months in prison by the Turin Court of Appeal in a case against the former Eternit executive over deaths linked to asbestos exposure in Italy.

Read more: Swiss businessman gets prison term for asbestos deaths
Swiss foreign trade booms in the first quarter

More

Swiss foreign trade booms in the first quarter

This content was published on Swiss imports and exports reached new heights in the first quarter, driven by the chemicals and pharmaceuticals sectors. Shipments to the US rose sharply.

Read more: Swiss foreign trade booms in the first quarter

In compliance with the JTI standards

More: SWI swissinfo.ch certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative

You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!

If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.

SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR

SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR