How a Business Meeting Runs in Côte d'Ivoire: Opening, Agenda and Follow-up

In Côte d'Ivoire (in West Africa, French-speaking, the world's largest cocoa producer), important matters are mostly discussed in person. Business culture guides consistently note a preference for face-to-face meetings over email or phone calls; a meeting is not just an exchange of information but an occasion to build a relationship. Below, in chronological order, are the key points of a meeting from start to finish.

Before the meeting: scheduling and preparation

Prepare materials in French: the US Department of Commerce's Country Commercial Guide recommends using French for business correspondence, catalogues and promotional materials, rather than assuming your counterpart can work in English; arrange a professional interpreter if needed.
Translate your business cards into French: business cards (cartes de visite) are widely used, and it is advisable to translate your company name and job title into French.
Mind the daily rhythm: the same guide notes that many companies take a long lunch break, roughly from 12:30 to 14:30 or 15:30, and some close for summer holidays in August. Oxford Business Group's visitor guide adds that the public sector is usually quieter on Friday afternoons, so it is best to avoid them for important meetings.
Confirm who will attend: find out in advance who will be there on the other side and who holds decision-making power, and send people of equivalent seniority from your own side.

Opening: build the relationship first

Meetings usually begin with a handshake and a "Bonjour", greeting the most senior person first. Before getting down to business, it is polite to exchange a few words about family, health or the weather; if your host offers a drink, accepting it signals that you accept their welcome.

Next come business cards and brief introductions. At a first meeting, keep forms of address formal: Monsieur/Madame followed by the surname or title.

The agenda: clear, but flexible

A clear agenda is a good thing, but the discussion may drift to other topics or spend more time on relationships and background. A practical approach:

Stage	Advice
Opening	State the purpose of your visit and the outcome you hope for in a sentence or two
During the discussion	Let the senior person on the other side set the pace; don't rush to interrupt
When the conversation drifts	Listen patiently, then steer naturally back to the agenda
Close	Summarise the points of agreement and next steps aloud, and ask your counterpart to confirm

A 2024 overview in Forbes Afrique also stresses the importance of candour, and notes that sharing a coffee can sometimes open up a discussion more than a formal meeting room. Inviting your counterpart to lunch is likewise seen as an effective way to build the relationship.

After the meeting: written confirmation and staying in touch

Send a meeting summary in French: list the points agreed, the action items and who is responsible, and invite your counterpart to add to or correct it. This turns a verbal understanding into a record both sides can see.
Keep your promises: send any documents, quotes or samples you promised on time. Reliability is the fastest way to build trust.
Maintain the relationship: accepting invitations to meals or events, and returning the invitation when appropriate, helps sustain the partnership.

For how to write the summary in French, see the article "How to write a French business email" in this series.

One line for Asian teams

Spend an extra five minutes on small talk at the start and send an extra summary in French at the end: the first builds the relationship, the second turns it into concrete cooperation.

References: ITA – Côte d'Ivoire Country Commercial Guide: Business Travel (2026); Oxford Business Group – Facts for visitors, Côte d'Ivoire (2020); Rivermate – Cultural considerations in Côte d'Ivoire; ClickUp – Business Etiquette in Côte d'Ivoire; Forbes Afrique – Le code culturel des affaires (2024)