The regulatory environment for IT imports can be unclear and subject to change, which can discourage businesses from investing in new technologies. The Ivoirian Customs Office handles import inspection duties in Côte d’Ivoire for general merchandise and determines the real value of imports based on Word Trade Organization (WTO) provisions.
For high-tech equipment, it is critical that keyboards, symbols, instruction manuals, operating systems and applications software be in the French language. Do not assume the user speaks or understands English. The equipment must be adapted to run as specified by European electrical and metric standards.
There is growing investment in IT infrastructure in Cote d’Ivoire, including submarine cables, data centers, and mobile networks. This will improve internet access and connectivity, which will create new opportunities for businesses and individuals.