Côte d’Ivoire has launched West Africa’s first agricultural commodities exchange, marking a major step toward modernizing regional trade. The exchange has attracted considerable interest, with over $54,000 worth of cashews, kola nuts, and maize exchanged within minutes of its opening. With the platform, which took seven years to develop, Côte d’Ivoire aims to replace the informal trading practices in some of the region’s countries with a regulated system that adapts to price fluctuations. Experts say this shift is vital, especially for crops like cashews, which have short harvest windows, and maize, a key staple for food security. With cocoa—Côte d’Ivoire’s top export—set to join the exchange later, this innovation could reshape the region’s agricultural economy.
SEMAFOR
