ABSTRACT
A country of just over 16 million people, Ivory Coast gained its independence from France on 7 August 1960. Although French is the official language, more than 60 ethnic languages are spoken in the country. Ivory Coast has the third largest economy in Sub-Saharan Africa, behind South Africa and Nigeria. The country accounts for 40 percent of the economic output of the West African Monetary Union and is the world’s biggest producer and exporter of cocoa beans. It is also the third largest producer and exporter of coffee, and exports palm oil, cotton, and pineapples. The agricultural and related sectors employ about 68 percent of the labor force. There is, however, an attempt to diversify the country’s economic structure. The country enjoys effective infrastructures, such as paved roads linking major cities and commercial centers, telephone, and electricity. For instance, by African standards, the telephone system is well developed, although it operates below capacity (CIA, World Factbook, 2002).
