Africa: Senior Bureau Official Fitrell Highlights U.S. Commitment to Stronger Commercial Ties with Africa During Visit to Côte d'Ivoire

Abidjan – Senior Bureau Official Troy Fitrell is visiting Abidjan from May 12 to 14. He aims to strengthen U.S. commercial ties with Africa. His visit includes meetings with business leaders, government officials, and international organizations.

On May 12 and 13, Fitrell attended the Africa CEO Forum. He participated in a roundtable on development finance and spoke about the U.S. approach to Africa.

On May 14, Fitrell and Ambassador Jessica Davis Ba will join the AmCham Business Summit at the U.S. Embassy in Abidjan. This summit is organized by the U.S.-Africa Business Center and AmCham West Africa. The theme is “Strengthening U.S. Business Partnerships with Africa.” It will feature discussions, engagements, and cultural events.

As keynote speaker, Fitrell introduced the State Department’s new Commercial Diplomacy Strategy for Sub-Saharan Africa. This strategy highlights the U.S.'s commitment to economic opportunity in Africa.

The U.S. Department of Commerce launched the Commercial Dialogue with Cote d’Ivoire’s Minister of Trade and Industry Souleymane Diarrassouba. This initiative aims to connect U.S. companies with opportunities in Cote d’Ivoire.

Fitrell also oversaw several new business deals during his visit. These agreements show increasing American engagement across key sectors in West Africa.

The U.S.-Africa Business Center organized a delegation of American companies for both events, indicating growing interest in African markets.

Highlighted U.S. Business Deals at the AmCham Business Summit:

Several agreements were signed or announced during the summit, totaling over $550 million.

On May 14, VAALCO Energy signed an MOU with PETROCI to explore farm-out opportunities in Cote d’Ivoire's offshore blocks.

Sun Africa formalized an MOU with Cote d’Ivoire’s government to transform its power sector using American innovation.

Yaatra Ventures signed an MOU with Société Ivoirienne de Raffinage (SIR) for a joint venture on a national refinery project aimed at boosting local fuel production.

Aerostar Dynamics entered an MOU valued at $45 million for drone technology training and manufacturing in Cote d’Ivoire starting June 2025.

NTELX partnered with Scanning Systems through an MOU to enhance freight transport security at border posts using advanced technology.

The U.S.-Africa Business Center renewed its MOU with Cote d’Ivoire’s Chamber of Commerce to strengthen commercial ties between both countries.

Since January 20, Citi supported Cote d'Ivoire in raising $1.75 billion through a dual-currency bond transaction that attracted significant global demand.

DiSabatino Construction signed an MOU on April 29 to help deliver affordable housing solutions while creating jobs through local partnerships.

An American consortium signed an MOU on April 17 for cell-broadcast technology that provides emergency alerts directly to mobile phones during crises.

Cybastion has engaged in multiple partnerships across West Africa since early 2025 aimed at enhancing digital infrastructure and cybersecurity initiatives.

These collaborations reflect ongoing efforts toward digital transformation and economic growth across various sectors in West African nations.