The Marahoué Region is located in the center-west of Côte d'Ivoire and is subdivided into five (05) Departments: Bouaflé (Capital), Bonon, Gohitafla, Sinfra, and Zuénoula. It covers an area of 9,092.48 km², which is 2.81% of the national territory.

  • The population of the region is as follows:

ENTITY

POPULATION

HOUSEHOLDS

MEN

WOMEN

TOTAL

SEX RATIO

NUMBER

AVERAGE SIZE

Marahoué Region

521,475

459,704

981,180

113

177,305

5.5

Bouaflé Department

161,857

138,448

300,305

117

63,016

4.8

BOUAFLE (Capital)

114,524

99,443

213,967

115

45,210

4.7

Source: INS, RGPH 2021

 

  • Bouaflé, 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) with a strong agricultural vocation (Study on the Competitive Economic Pole Development Program - PEC, 2018);
  • An industrial zone exists in the Bouaflé department with an industrial land reserve of 134 hectares (MCIPPME, 2022);
  • Financial sector: 08 commercial banks and 03 microfinance institutions are established there;
  • Mobile network coverage (ARTCI, July 2023): 99.65% of localities and 99.82% of the population are covered;
  • Health: The health infrastructure in the region includes most of the technical platforms.

Health infrastructure

Number

Primary Contact Health Establishments (ESPC)

130

General Hospitals

03

Regional Hospital Centers

01

Private Profit-Making Health Establishments

44

Functional Operating Rooms

02

Functional Public Radiology Services

02

Functional Private Radiology Services

01

Dental Offices

04

Public Pharmacies

11

Private Pharmacies

16

Source: MSHPCMU, 2022

 

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

 

  • Agriculture :

Type of crop

Crops

Production (in tons)

2021

2022

2023

Cash crops

Rubber

8,553

11,291

11,387

Oil Palm

2,025

1,824

2,068

Cocoa

67,144

66,725

60,252

Coffee

39

65

62

Cashew

36,437

42,306

43,204

Food crops

Plantain Banana

161,789

168,060

107,984

Yam

240,762

246,990

421,773

Maize

28,689

30,194

43,797

Rice

90,784

101,325

113,387

Groundnut

5,342

5,559

14,073

Taro

25,771

26,542

ND

Vegetable crops

Eggplant

3,235

Okra

5,019

Tomato

1,785

Source: MEMINADERPV, 2023 ND: Not Available

 

  • Agro-industry: sugarcane production unit (Zuénoula);

 

  • Animal resources:

Type of livestock

Species

Livestock (in number of heads)

2022

Poultry

Broilers

56,979

Layers

56,470

Traditional Chickens

12,049

Ruminants

Cattle

37,370

Sheep

63,080

Goats

41,867

Pigs

Traditional Pig

10,316

Modern Pig

Source: MIRAH, estimate 2022

 

  • Industry: Bouaflé Brewery;
  • Mining resources: Gold (gold mines of Angovia and Kpangbankouamekro);
  • Tourism: the region's tourist offerings include:
    • the Confluence of Bonzi;
    • the sacred stones of Gohitafla;
    • the Weavers of Bazré;
    • the Marahoué National Park (100,000 hectares).

As part of the implementation of the National Development Plan (PND) 2021-2025, the Marahoué Region is included in the area covered by the Agro-pole "Academic Research and Transformation Hub" (Agro-pole 6).

Investment opportunities exist in the following sectors:

  • Agriculture and Agro-industry: Establishment of processing plants for cash crop production (cocoa, etc.) and industrial units for processing food products (rice, yam, cassava), development of citrus value chains;
  • Animal Resources: Creation of poultry farms;
  • Fisheries Resources: Freshwater aquaculture;
  • Mining Resources: Exploration and exploitation of gold, diamonds, tantalum, sand, and gravel;
  • Tourism: Promotion of the Marahoué natural reserve to develop eco-tourism and biodiversity.

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

NB

Project or Action Description

Planning Document

Estimated Cost

(FCFA)

Observations

01

Gold Mining Operations

PND 2021 -2025

Not specified

Business opportunity to seize

02

Electrification of localities in Marahoué

Not specified

Business opportunity to seize

03

Construction and strengthening of roads (heavy and light reprofiling) and structures

Not specified

Business opportunity to seize

04

Construction of social and economic housing

Not specified

Business opportunity to seize

05

Implementation of the land development program for the production of housing and serviced land accessible to all

Not specified

Business opportunity to seize

06

Implementation of the Bouaflé Competitive Pole program (Local Economic Connector) with a strong agricultural vocation

Not specified

Business opportunity to seize

07

Development of an Industrial Zone

Not specified

Business opportunity to seize

Source: MEPD, 2024 / PS-Gouv2