Coffee: Côte d’Ivoire Elected to Two Strategic Positions within the International Coffee Organization

Côte d’Ivoire is strengthening its position on the international coffee stage. At the conclusion of the 141st session of the International Coffee Council, held via videoconference from March 25 to 26, 2026, His Excellency Aly Touré was elected Vice-Chair of the Administrative and Finance Committee (AFC) and Vice-Chair of the Working Group on the Future of the Organization’s Premises.

As Permanent Representative of Côte d’Ivoire to international commodity organizations in London, Aly Touré led the Ivorian delegation during this strategic session of the International Coffee Organization (ICO), which brings together countries representing 98% of global coffee production and more than 67% of global coffee consumption.

Recognition of Ivorian Leadership

This dual election highlights Côte d’Ivoire’s growing role in global governance of the coffee sector. It comes in the context of implementing the 2022 International Coffee Agreement, of which Côte d’Ivoire remains the only African country to have signed and ratified to date.

During the session, the ICO Executive Director, Vanusia Nogueira, provided an update on the progress made by member states in signing and ratifying this agreement, which is considered a major lever for modernizing the coffee sector.

Strategic Issues for the Coffee Sector

The discussions also addressed the global coffee market situation and two key administrative issues:

·        The future of the organization’s premises, and

·        The mandate of the Executive Director, which expires in April 2027.

Beyond institutional matters, producing countries emphasized the need to intensify efforts in local processing and promotion of consumption, relying more on the private sector, now recognized as a central actor by the 2022 Agreement.

An Ivorian Model Praised

This international recognition aligns with the reforms implemented in the coffee-cocoa sector under the leadership of Alassane Ouattara. These reforms have repositioned Côte d’Ivoire as a model of governance and performance in the global coffee industry.

Through this dual appointment, Côte d’Ivoire confirms its ambition to play a stronger role in shaping strategic directions for the international coffee market.