Bafing Region

The Bafing Region is located in the Northwest of Côte d'Ivoire and is subdivided into three (03) Departments: Touba (Capital), Ouaninou, and Koro. It covers an area of 8,650 km², which is 2.68% of the national territory.

• The population of the region is as follows:

Source: INS, RGPH 2021

• Touba, the capital of the region, is a Local Economic Connector (a small town that is at an embryonic stage of urbanization facilitating internal economies of scale, such as hosting a large company that processes local agricultural products) whose economy is primarily based on agriculture, trade, livestock, tourism, and transport (Study on the Competitive Economic Pole Development Program - PEC, 2018);
• Financial sector: 01 microfinance institution is established there;
• One (01) industrial land reserve has been established with an area of 50 ha (MCIPPME, 2022);
• Mobile network coverage (July 2023): 83.12% of localities and 86.53% of the population are covered;
• Health: The health infrastructure in the region covers most of the technical platforms.

Source: MSHPCMU, 2022

The key sectors of activity include agriculture and agro-industry, animal resources, and tourism.

Agriculture:

Source: MEMINADERPV, 2023 ND: Not Available

• Animal resources

Source: MIRAH, estimate 2022

• Tourism: The tourism offerings in the region include:
  • The two-century-old mosque of Ganhoué (Sub-Prefecture of Ouaninou);
  • The inscriptions on the stones of Silasso Ganhoué;
  • The three (03) caves of Toutié;
  • Mount Zaala;
  • Mount Djéguénin of Bambadougou;
  • The Silures and masks of Silakoro S/P of Touba;
  • The Mimbala waterfall.

As part of the implementation of the National Development Plan (PND) 2021-2025, the Bafing Region is included in the area covered by the Agro-pole "Pole for the Transformation of Food Crops" (Agro-pole 8).

Investment opportunities exist in the following sectors:

• Agriculture and Agro-industry: Investments in the development of food crop sectors (Rice, Soybean), cash crop sectors (Cotton, Cashew), and the processing of these agricultural products.
• Mining Resources: The region has a rich mining potential with deposits of Cobalt, Nickel, Gold, Chrome, and Rare Earths, for which exploration permits have been granted in the Koro department.
• Tourism: Creation of tourist circuits and construction of hotel complexes;
• Trade: Opportunity to develop international trade through the double borders with Guinea and Mali.
• Environment: Investments in scientific research to address the severe climate issues in the area.

Some priority projects and actions have been identified for the benefit of the Bafing Region, including: