SMEs and SMIs are micro-enterprises very often linked to the informal sector. To be more specific, an African SME is a company with an annual turnover excluding taxes not exceeding one billion CFA francs.
According to a report by the Ministry for the Promotion of SMEs, Crafts and the Transformation of the Informal Sector, Côte d’Ivoire had 39,358 SMEs in 2019.
Despite some decline due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the amount of GDP in the SME/SMI sector has increased by 315 billion since 2017.
To maintain economic growth, the government plans to accelerate investment projects as part of its National Development Plan 2021-2025 (PND 2021-2025); this gives priority to the private sector and to SMEs-SMIs.
Thanks to the investment code, companies approved by CEPICI are required to produce corporate social responsibility reports each year. Such a measure facilitates the business climate and invites investors who are still reluctant to invest.
Foreign investors have a great opportunity with these companies which are in full expansion.
Since the ministerial reshuffle of April 20, 2022, SMEs and SMIs are under the supervision of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry
For a better supervision of SMEs/SMIs, the government has created a support system through organizations which are broken down as follows:
Minister for the Promotion of SMEs, Handicrafts and the Transformation of the Informal Sector.
The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Côte d'Ivoire
CEPICI
The Ivory Coast SME Agency
SMEs and SMIs bring together many sectors of activity such as:
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Agrifood
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Arts and crafts and decoration
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Construction
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Trade
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Communication
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Education
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Accommodation and catering
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Services
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Technology
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Processing
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