COUNTRY PROFILE / CANADA

Continent: America

Official name: Canada

Nature of the regime: constitutional monarchy with bicameral parliamentary system, federation of 10 provinces and three territories

Prime Minister: Mr. Justin Trudeau (Liberal Party of Canada), since November 4, 2015.

Area: 9,984,670 km²

Cash: Canadian dollar. 1 CAD = €0.67 (04/2021)

Population (2020): 38.3 million inhabitants

Capitals :Ottawa

Main towns: Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary, Ottawa-Gatineau, Edmonton

Official languages: English and French for the federal government (since 1969); Quebec: French; New Brunswick: English and French; other provinces and territories: English

Agreements and Conventions

This cooperation is marked by the signing of Agreements and Conventions between the two (02) countries. It has been further enriched within the framework of the International Organization of La Francophonie, of which Côte d'Ivoire and Canada are members:

• September 14, 2016: Signature, in Montreal, of an Act of Friendship and Cooperation with a view to twinning the cities of Montreal and Abidjan;
• July 21, 2017: Signature, in Abidjan, of an establishment agreement confirming the opening of a Quebec office in Abidjan;
• November 30, 2017: official launch of the activities of the Quebec Office in Abidjan under the mandate of Mr. MOREL SIASIA, Director of the Office.
• Economic and financial cooperation

Agreements

• Agreement Concerning the Promotion and Protection of Investments (FIPA)signed in 2015;
• Air Transport Agreement (ATA) signed in 1987;
• Convention for the Avoidance of Double Taxation with Respect to Taxes on Income and the Prevention of Tax Evasion signed in 1983.

 

Ivorian debt relief

As part of the Canadian Debt Relief Initiative Program, Côte d'Ivoire benefited, in 2012, from the total cancellation of its debt for a total amount of US$260 million.

On the economic front, Canada has provided technical and financial support in the fight against poverty. To this end, a ten-year program (2002-2011) comprising two (02) major axes, cooperative development centered on support for coffee/cocoa cooperatives and forestry management within the framework of the new sectoral policy, was concluded in February 2002.

 

Project support

Three (03) funds were created to support various development projects:

• the Canadian Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI) whose objective is to support smaller-scale projects introduced by local populations in the form of technical, economic, educational, cultural and social assistance;
• the Special Development Fund (FSD) which aims to support initiatives coming from NGOs, civil society, local authorities, grassroots communities;
• the Ivorian-Canadian Counterpart Fund (FDCIC) which provides financing contributions in the fight against poverty.

Canada also supports Côte d'Ivoire through several regional projects, notably projects to support the fight against AIDS and Integrated Epistemological Surveillance (training of populations on infectious diseases including AIDS).

1. Cultural cooperation

Canada offers study and research scholarships to Côte d'Ivoire through the Canadian Francophonie Scholarship Program.

For Ivorian students in Canada, the Canadian Francophonie Scholarship Program has made it possible to grant scholarships to 114 citizens of Côte d'Ivoire since 1987.

Under the terms of the Agreement on cooperation in education and training, concluded between the Government of the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire and the Government of Quebec, on November 14, 2002, Ivorian nationals studying or wishing to study in Quebec can benefit from an exemption from the additional tuition fees normally charged to foreign students.

Furthermore, a strong delegation from Quebec participated in the 8th Francophonie Games in Abidjan from July 21 to 31, 2017.

2. Military and humanitarian cooperation

Military cooperation between Côte d'Ivoire and Canada in the field of training has enabled Ivorian non-commissioned officers and officers as well as concerned Ivorian civilians to benefit from advanced training or training courses in Canada. These courses mainly concern peacekeeping techniques.

Canada supported the United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI). More than 120 million Canadian dollars were granted to UNOCI. Also, nine (09) police officers mainly from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) were seconded to UNOCI.

Regarding the humanitarian component, Canada has paid more than US$8.5 million to the ICRC, United Nations agencies and international NGOs to help refugees and populations displaced by the post-electoral crisis.

A. Main Exports from Cote d’Ivoire to Canada: cocoa beans and processed cocoa, processed wood, rubber, crude oil.

B. Main CI Imports from Canada: fruits, meat and edible offal, soft wheat, fertilizer, mechanical machines.

Cote d’Ivoire-Canada trade flows (Value in millions of FCFA)

Years	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022
Exports	145 253	208 606	130 827	98 875	127 200
Imports	10 965	15282	15194	18 495	33 700
Commercial sale	134 288	193 324	115 633	80 380	93 500
Bilateral global trade	156 218	223 888	146 021	117 370	160 900

Sources : DGE-DPCEI

 

 

Sources : DGE-DPCEI

• The value of bilateral trade reached 160,900 million FCFA in 2022 compared to 117,370 million FCFA in 2021;
• Over the period 2018-2022, the average value of Ivorian exports is estimated at 142,152 million CFAF/year compared to 18,817 million CFAF/year for imports;
• Over the period 2018-2022, the trade balance is in surplus for Côte d'Ivoire except for the year 2022.