Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire – August 28, 2025
The first day of the Pakistan Rice Road Show 2025 opened with energy and optimism in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, setting the tone for a landmark event in strengthening agricultural trade and cooperation between Pakistan and West Africa.
A Strong Start in Abidjan
Held at the Novotel Hotel in Abidjan-Plateau, the day brought together government officials, trade representatives, private investors, and rice industry stakeholders under the theme “Connecting Markets, Ensuring Quality: Pakistani Rice for Côte d’Ivoire.” After a successful debut in Accra earlier in the week, Abidjan became the next key stop on the road show’s regional journey.
Pakistan’s Vision
The event began with opening remarks from H.E. Mahmood Akhtar Mahmood, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Côte d’Ivoire, who underlined Pakistan’s commitment to building long-term agricultural partnerships. He noted that Pakistan’s rice exports to Côte d’Ivoire already exceed 4,000 tonnes annually, capturing nearly 6% of the basmati rice market, and expressed hope for even greater collaboration.
Adding weight to the day’s proceedings, Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan shared a video message from Islamabad, highlighting the road show as part of Pakistan’s strategy to diversify trade markets and strengthen ties with West Africa. His message was reinforced by Mr. Athar Hussain, Director General of TDAP’s Agri-Food Division, who led the Pakistani delegation and presented Pakistan’s agricultural strengths, particularly its quality rice exports and global competitiveness.
Côte d’Ivoire’s Commitment
From the Ivorian side, Hon. Mamadou Moctar Kangouté, Member of Parliament for Bouna, welcomed Pakistan’s initiative and stressed the importance of a “win-win model of cooperation” centered on local value addition, technology transfer, and job creation.
Further strengthening the discussions, Mr. Aboubacar, Director of Value-Addition Support at the Rice Development Agency (ADERIZ), outlined Côte d’Ivoire’s national goal of achieving rice self-sufficiency. He emphasized that partnerships with countries like Pakistan are essential for success, especially through investment, irrigation development, and private sector participation.
Building Bridges for the Future
Beyond the speeches, day one also created a valuable platform for business-to-business networking. Pakistani exporters met with Ivorian importers, wholesalers, and agribusiness leaders to explore new trade deals, investment opportunities, and joint ventures. The exchanges set a positive foundation for building trust and advancing cooperation in the rice sector.
Conclusion of Day One
The opening day concluded on a high note, with both sides reaffirming their shared vision for food security, sustainable agriculture, and stronger bilateral trade. The event not only showcased Pakistan’s rice potential but also reinforced Abidjan’s position as a gateway for regional distribution across West Africa.
Day two is expected to build on this momentum, with deeper discussions on trade facilitation, investment, and collaborative projects that could reshape the rice value chain in the region.
