Like most other African countries, gold is the focus of most foreign investment. Cote dIvoire is no exception with nearly all of the prospecting and mining licenses being issues for gold. The country has a broad commodity base with undeveloped iron ore, bauxite, nickel, manganese and tantalite resources. Artisinal workings of gold and diamonds are widespread.
Côte DIvoire has considerable mineral potential, with important occurrences of gold, diamonds, iron, nickel, cobalt, copper and manganese, and bauxite having been identified. Like much of West Africa, however, it is gold that has been at the forefront of exploration since the introduction of a new favourable mining investment code in 1995.
The main exports in Côte d’Ivoire are cocoa, coffee, tropical hardwoods, petroleum, cotton, bananas, pineapples, palm oil, fish and rubber-sourced latex. Agricultural products are a key element of the country’s economy.