vory Coast is a dynamic and developing economy in West Africa, with an increasingly important voice in the region and on international forums. Thanks to its political stability, over the past decade, Ivory Coast has achieved one of the fastest growth rates in the continent and is ranked second in terms of ease of doing business in West Africa by the World Bank. In an effort to attract investment and external resources to support development and strengthen its economic position in the region, Ivory Coast is aiming to expand cooperation with major countries, Gulf countries, and Southeast Asian countries, including Vietnam. Despite their geographical distance, Vietnam and Ivory Coast share a sincere and strong bond. The two countries will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations in 2025. During meetings with Ivorian leaders, Vietnamese leaders emphasized that Vietnam always values its friendly relations with African countries, with Ivory Coast serving as a "gateway" for Vietnam to access and promote relations with West African countries. African countries in general, and Ivory Coast in particular, are important partners for Vietnam as the country actively promotes comprehensive, in-depth, and diversified international integration and markets, aiming to enhance competitiveness in the new era of development. Currently, Ivory Coast is Vietnam's leading trading partner in Africa. From 2015 to the present, trade turnover between the two countries has grown rapidly, reaching nearly US$2 billion in 2025. Agricultural products are one of the main drivers of bilateral trade relations. Vietnam imports cashew nuts, cotton, and some raw materials from Ivory Coast; and exports rice and consumer goods to this market. Ivorian officials have repeatedly affirmed that they consider Vietnam an important partner in the agricultural sector and hope that Vietnam will support their rice production and ensure food security. As two countries with dynamic and developing economies, actively integrating into the international community, Vietnam and Ivory Coast have ample room for cooperation, leveraging each other's strengths and existing potential, aiming for an increasingly substantive partnership. In April 2026, on the occasion of attending the 152nd General Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Türkiye, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man met with the Speaker of the Ivory Coast National Assembly, Patrick Achi. At the meeting, Chairman Tran Thanh Man emphasized that, in order to strongly promote trade and investment cooperation and deepen the bilateral relationship on the basis of equality, balance, and mutual benefit, both sides need to focus on exploiting the strengths of traditional trade items such as rice and cashew nuts, and continue to diversify export products. Currently, both countries are striving to create the most favorable conditions for their business communities, thereby enabling each country's strong products to penetrate the other's market. Activities such as information exchange, trade and investment promotion, and strengthening connections between business associations are being emphasized by both sides. On the international stage, the two countries cooperate closely and support each other in international forums and organizations. As an active and proactive member of ASEAN, Vietnam serves as a "gateway" for Ivory Coast products to the ASEAN and Asian markets. Building on a tradition of good cooperation spanning over half a century, the relationship between Vietnam and Ivory Coast is expected to reach new heights, contributing to the realization of both countries' future development aspirations.