Cote d'Ivoire marks 55th independence anniversary

Cote d’Ivoire Ambassador to Korea Sylvestre Kouassi Bile, eighth from left, hosted a reception at Lotte Hotel Seoul on August 7 to celebrate Cote d’Ivoire’s 55th national day. / Courtesy of the Embassy of Cote d’Ivoire

By Rachel Lee

Cote d’Ivoire ambassador to Korea Sylvestre Kouassi Bile hosted a reception at the Lotte Hotel Seoul on August 7 to celebrate Cote d’Ivoire’s 55th national day as well as the 54th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Distinguished guests — including Yoon Yeo-chul, chief of protocol at Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Shim Jae-kwon, Korea-Cote d’Ivoire Parliamentary Friendship Association president — attended.

“This year, the celebration of the independence of our country is special as it takes place at a time when Cote d’Ivoire is engaged in the final preparations for the presidential election on October 25,” the ambassador said.

With regard to cooperation between the two countries, the ambassador believes trade exchanges have not reached a satisfactory level despite a growing trend.

“However, I would like to express my satisfaction with the interest of Korean economic operators in Cote d’Ivoire,” he said. “For some years now, several large Korean groups have been participating in building power plants to increase the production of electricity. I would like to invite Korean businessmen, whose know-how is beyond question, to take advantage of the many investment opportunities offered by Cote d’Ivoire.”