Hosting Ivorian guests in Asia: food, scheduling and etiquette

A visit to Asia by guests from Côte d'Ivoire (in West Africa, French-speaking, the world's largest cocoa producer) is often a key step forward in a business relationship. Your visitors have travelled a very long way, and how thoughtfully you host them will directly shape their impression of your company. Below are practical points on scheduling, food and etiquette.

Scheduling: work out the time difference, then set the pace

Côte d'Ivoire uses Greenwich Mean Time (UTC+0) all year round, with no daylight saving time. This means Taiwan is 8 hours ahead of Abidjan, and Japan and Korea are 9 hours ahead. On the first day after arrival, it is best to plan only a relaxed meeting or dinner, and to keep important presentations and contract signings for the second day onwards.

A few suggestions for planning:

• Visas and invitation documents: visa rules for foreign visitors are set by each country's authorities (in Taiwan, the Bureau of Consular Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs). Check official announcements for any letter of invitation or guarantee your guests need, and prepare it early.
• Language: the official language of Côte d'Ivoire is French. If the programme includes formal meetings, check in advance whether a French interpreter is needed and whether your presentations should be prepared in French.
• Buffer time: after a long-haul flight, leaving extra time for rest and travel between appointments is more considerate than packing in site visits.

Food: ask first, then book

According to the 2021 census cited by the US Department of State, about 42.5% of Côte d'Ivoire's population is Muslim and 39.8% Christian. You cannot tell a guest's faith from their name or appearance, so the safest approach is to ask politely about dietary preferences and restrictions before the trip.

If your guests are Muslim, avoid pork and alcohol, and favour restaurants with halal or Muslim-friendly certification. Taiwan's Central News Agency reported in 2023 that more than 300 restaurants and hotels in Taiwan had obtained Muslim-friendly certification, so there is more choice than you might expect.

In terms of taste, common staples in Côte d'Ivoire include yam, cassava, rice, millet and maize; chicken is very popular, and fish is widely eaten in coastal areas. Including a meal or two of rice with stewed meat or grilled fish usually helps guests relax more than a programme made up entirely of raw dishes or strongly flavoured local specialities.

Etiquette: handshakes, gifts and meals

• Shake hands with everyone: in Côte d'Ivoire, it is customary to shake hands with everyone present on entering a room, even if you have already greeted them earlier. At the airport or at the start of a meeting, remember to greet each person individually.
• Keep an appropriate distance: standing too close or holding eye contact for a long time while talking may be considered impolite.
• Timing of gifts: suitable gifts are small souvenirs that represent your country, or items bearing your company logo; it is best to present them at the start of the meeting.
• Table manners: when dining with Muslim guests, avoid passing food or objects with your left hand. In Côte d'Ivoire, the time after the meal is better suited to in-depth conversation, so there is no need to rush through formal business while eating.
• Dress and punctuality: business people usually dress fairly conservatively, and arriving on time is considered polite.

One line for Asian companies

Good hosting is not about lavishness but about making sure your guests eat with peace of mind, get enough sleep and are properly greeted by everyone; get these three things right and the business conversation will flow much more easily.

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References: timeanddate: Time Zone in Côte d'Ivoire; U.S. Department of State: 2023 Report on International Religious Freedom – Côte d'Ivoire (ecoi.net); Central News Agency (Taiwan): First halal Taiwan pavilion at the Kuala Lumpur autumn travel fair (2023); DLIFLC (Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center): French-Côte d'Ivoire Cultural Orientation (2016); Université Laval CEFAN: Le français, langue officielle