OREANDA-NEWS. His Excellency Mr. Alassane Ouattara, the President of the Republic of Cote d'Ivoire hosted a Banquet in honour of the President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee in Abidjan yesterday (June 14, 2016).

In his banquet speech, President Mukherjee said India will remain a steadfast partner in assisting Cote d’Ivoire in its economic development and growth. Over years of working together closely for the benefit of our peoples, our two Governments have developed a successful framework for our bilateral co-operation. We have, over the decades, created unique bonds of trust and mutual understanding - based on our shared values and synergies. Our partnership has, in recent years, become increasingly multifaceted, dynamic and rewarding. Our bilateral trade is steadily increasing and is expected to touch one billion US dollars in the next few years. Given the relative size of our economies and our wide convergences in several sectors of common interests, we both agree that our trade and investment and economic co-operation does, indeed have a greater potential that is waiting to be fully realised.