THE PORT OF ABIDJAN: AN IMPORTANT FACTOR IN THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF THE IVORY COAST

Abstract

Abstract : Of the eight territories (and subsequently states) of former French West Africa, the Ivory Coast has perhaps the best basic potential for economic development. In terms of location, the country lies in the commercially productive West African rainforest and savanna, with the consequent diversity of agricultural production. In terms of specific commodities, the climatic base is well suited for the production of coffee, cacao, bananas, oil palm, coconut palm, pineapples, rubber, cola nuts, cotton peanuts, and other commercially important crops, as well as the exploitation of tropical timber stands. In this respect, the Ivory Coast is very similar to the states of Ghana and Nigeria, and totally unlike Senegal. The latter, although more strategically located, lies almost entirely within the savanna and steppic zones of West Africa and has virtually a mono-agricultural base - the commercial exploitation of the peanut. Also, unlike Guinea, the Ivory Coast is a relatively flat country with few physiographic limitations to the expansion of commercial agriculture and transportation, though, to be sure, the Ivory Coast apparently does not have the mineral potential of her neighbor to the west.