India and Cote d'Ivoire Expand Defense and Trade Ties
Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met with Ivorian officials in Abidjan to strengthen defense partnerships and bilateral cooperation in trade and healthcare.
S. Jaishankar, India's External Affairs Minister, visited Abidjan on October 8 as part of a three-nation African tour that included stops in Ghana and Ethiopia. During the visit, Jaishankar met with Vice Prime Minister and Defence Minister Tene Birahima Ouattara to discuss expanding the defense partnership, with a specific focus on capacity building, anti-terrorism, and institutional exchanges.
Jaishankar described Cote d'Ivoire as one of India's "key partners" in Western Africa, stating that the relationship is underpinned by mutual trust and shared interests. In separate talks with Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Niale Kaba, the officials discussed advancing bilateral cooperation across several sectors, including infrastructure, agriculture, healthcare, trade, and investment.
