Vietnam and Côte d’Ivoire Seek Broader Trade Beyond Rice, Cashews and Cotton
Vietnam and Côte d’Ivoire are seeking deeper agricultural and fisheries cooperation around an established trade in rice, cashews, cotton and raw materials. The two sides are also discussing Vietnamese investment, equipment and technology transfer to support food production and value chains in Côte d’Ivoire.
Established commodity flows provide a base
Vietnam and Côte d’Ivoire are seeking to broaden a commercial relationship already supported by two-way flows of agricultural commodities. Côte d’Ivoire is currently Vietnam’s third-largest rice export market, while Vietnam imports cashews, cotton and other raw materials from the West African country, according to Thanh Nien.
The existing pattern reflects complementary roles in agricultural supply chains. Vietnamese companies supply rice to the Ivorian market, while processors and manufacturers in Vietnam source agricultural inputs from Côte d’Ivoire. The next phase under discussion would extend cooperation beyond commodity sales toward investment, processing equipment, technology transfer and the development of local value chains.
Parliamentary visit focuses on agriculture and fisheries
The issue was highlighted during an official visit to Vietnam by Côte d’Ivoire National Assembly President Patrick Achi from August 23 to 26. On August 25, Achi and Vietnamese National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man visited two companies in Can Tho: Trung An High-Tech Agriculture Joint Stock Company and Can Tho Import-Export Seafood Joint Stock Company, known as Caseamex.
Trung An specializes in producing and exporting clean and organic rice. Some Vietnamese businesses have already built direct export networks in Côte d’Ivoire, including Trung An. During the visit, the delegation reviewed the company’s rice production, processing and commercial operations, as well as its range of rice and rice-based products. The officials also visited a demonstration field for promising rice varieties for the 2026 summer-autumn crop.
The visit to Caseamex brought fisheries into the discussions. The company has long operated in seafood processing and exports in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta. Achi said Côte d’Ivoire could become a notable destination for Vietnamese companies seeking to expand markets, invest and build value chains in Africa. His comments positioned the country not only as an outlet for Vietnamese products but also as a potential base for longer-term production partnerships.
Technology transfer could reshape cooperation
In fisheries, Achi said he expected cooperation to go beyond exports of fish and related products to Côte d’Ivoire. He called for Vietnamese companies to invest in equipment and transfer technology that could help the country strengthen food security. He also said he would continue discussions with Tran Thanh Man and encourage engagement between the relevant agencies of both countries, particularly in agriculture.
No investment values, trade targets or implementation timetables were announced. The immediate significance of the visit therefore lies in the areas identified for further work: rice distribution, agricultural sourcing, seafood processing, equipment supply and technology transfer. For Vietnamese exporters, Côte d’Ivoire offers an established rice market and a possible platform for wider activity in Africa. For Ivorian producers, closer links with Vietnamese companies could create additional demand for cashews, cotton and raw materials while bringing processing knowledge and equipment closer to domestic production.
Turning those prospects into larger trade flows will depend on commercial agreements and follow-up by companies and government agencies. The existing rice, cashew and cotton trade gives both sides a practical foundation, but the proposed move into investment and local value-chain development would require commitments beyond the parliamentary visit.
