Trade Fairs and Industry Events: Where Asian Companies Can Start in Côte d'Ivoire

When you first approach the market in Côte d'Ivoire (in West Africa, French-speaking, the world's largest cocoa producer), attending an industry fair is often a better first step than setting up locally straight away: in just a few days you can meet government departments, buyers, distributors and peers. The events below are limited to those that can be verified through public official or media sources; always check the organisers' latest announcements for dates.

At a glance

Highlights of each event

SARA (Salon International de l'Agriculture et des Ressources Animales) is held at the Abidjan Exhibition Centre (Parc des Expositions d'Abidjan). The 2025 edition drew 915 exhibitors from 32 countries, with China as guest of honour and a focus on agro-processing and food sovereignty. The organisers' provisional figures reported about 410,000 visits and about XOF 406 billion in investment intentions and contracts. For makers of farm machinery, fertilisers, irrigation or food-processing equipment, it is the most direct showcase available.

SITLA (Salon International du Tourisme et des Loisirs d'Abidjan) returned in 2025 after a five-year break, also at the Abidjan Exhibition Centre. All 31 of the country's regions took part, themes included tourism digitalisation and local gastronomy, and entry was free.

Jnec-CI (Journées nationales des exportateurs de cajou de Côte d'Ivoire): the 6th edition in 2026 was opened by the director general of the cashew regulator, the CCA, with the cashew exporters' association (Aec-CI) also involved. More than 3,000 people attended, and the Vietnam Cashew Association was guest of honour. It is a window onto the cashew supply chain and processing investment.

IvoirTech Forum is organised by the Ministry of Digital Transformation. It was announced at GITEX Africa in Morocco in April 2025, with the aim of bringing together start-ups and digital-transformation players.

Africa CEO Forum is co-organised by the Jeune Afrique media group and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), part of the World Bank Group. Its 12th edition was held in Abidjan in May 2025; it moved to Kigali in 2026 and will return to Abidjan in May 2027, when the organisers expect more than 2,800 participants. Côte d'Ivoire's investment promotion centre (CEPICI) has also held an "Invest in Côte d'Ivoire" side event during the forum.

Preparing to exhibit

French-language brochures and business cards are basic essentials for communicating at local fairs. It is also worth contacting CEPICI or the relevant sector authority in advance to find out whether matchmaking sessions will run during the event. Follow-up visits after the fair are the key step in turning the business cards you collected into actual partnerships.

One line for Asian companies

Pick the fair most relevant to your industry and visit it first as an attendee — that tells you more about whether the market suits you than renting a stand straight away. Once your direction is clear, plan your exhibition and follow-up visits.

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References: Abidjan.net – SARA 2025 : cérémonie d'ouverture (2025); KOACI – SARA 2025 : un bilan provisoire prometteur (2025); Fraternité Matin – SITLA 2025 : trois jours pour sublimer la Côte d'Ivoire (2025); AllAfrica – Filière cajou, Jnec-CI (2026); AllAfrica – Forum IvoirTech annoncé depuis Marrakech (2025); AIP – Abidjan accueillera l'Africa CEO Forum les 3 et 4 mai 2027 (2026); Abidjan.net – Le CEPICI sponsorise le side-event Investir en Côte d'Ivoire (2025)