“It didn’t work”: Alassane Ouattara on his experience in Japan

Alassane Ouattara recalled an effort he made in 1991, as Côte d’Ivoire’s prime minister, to sell Ivorian cocoa directly to Japanese companies. Japanese buyers preferred to keep their established supply routes, mainly through Switzerland, Europe and the Netherlands, and the initiative failed. At a WTO presidential conference on October 29, 2026, Ouattara also mentioned efforts to export cocoa and cashew nuts to China. He stressed the importance of product competitiveness and the barriers holding back African trade.