ABSTRACT
This chapter provides a general survey of the obstacles and opportunities for private initiative as they relate to multinational firms, employing the example of Ivory Coast. It considers the obstacles impeding the release of private initiative that derive from the presence of multinational enterprises, and presents the multinational's positive contribution to private enterprise. The observation that should be made concerning the behavior of multinational enterprises in Ivory Coast is that they generally follow the pattern of the international product cycle. The narrowness of the Ivorian market forces the government to create conditions favorable to direct foreign investment in industry. Multinational firms can contribute effectively to the development of African private initiative. Technological supervision by multinational firms can enable local suppliers to manufacture products of better quality and to ensure good business management. The chapter also provides a few policy recommendations regarding multinationals and the stimulation of private enterprise.
