Those interviewed include ministers of the new government that took office after the end of the civil war that rocked the country from November 2010 to April 2011; including; leaders of trade or business associations, and corporation presidents, CEOs and managers. It is, therefore, the purpose of this Marcopolis Country Report to present their views and outlook for the future.

In 1985 the government officially designated the name of the country as Côte d'Ivoire. This is the correct legal and diplomatic usage., and the name preferred by Ivorians.

To the average American or even European business person, one of the most remarkable developments, not only in Cote d’Ivoire but throughout much of the developing world, is the work of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN).

The modern history of Ivorian independence begins with the dynamic personality and leadership of Felix Houphouët Boigny (pronounced Feliks Oufwet Bwajni) (1905-1993)

While Côte d’Ivoire has a long and proud history, it is the events of the most recent two decades that cast the longest shadow over its future.

For the people of Côte d'Ivoire, the present and future began on April 11, 2011, with the arrest of the president-who-would-not-leave, Laurent Gbagbo, for that signaled the effective end of the civil war.

Although the violence of the five-month civil war is over, and the parliamentary elections proceeded relatively peacefully, there is still fear in the country.

The country was in a crisis for more than ten years; companies were losing jobs and poverty was rising.

Côte d'Ivoire is a country with great potential. We were ahead of everyone between 1960 and 1985—Singapore, South Korea, Morocco, Tunisia—because this country was well-managed, with a clear vision and a development process that was sustained for years.Then we went into instability and experienced backwards development, but we're still a developing country.