Author: Uzoma Oguh

Côte d’Ivoire: Africa’s Economic Powerhouse to Watch in 2025

  • 4th February, 2025
  • 2 min reading

Despite global economic shocks, Côte d’Ivoire has remained resilient, emerging as one of Africa’s fastest-growing economies and positioning itself as a major driver of trade and investment in West Africa.
According to the International Monetary Fund World Economic Outlook 2024, the country is projected to sustain 6.4% economic growth in 2025, driven by:
✅ Strong macroeconomic fundamentals
✅ A dynamic private sector fueling innovation and investment
✅ A young and skilled workforce driving productivity
✅ Global leadership in cocoa and raw cashew exports

Key Economic Indicators for Côte d’Ivoire
💰 GDP: $86.9 billion (2023)
📈 Projected Growth: 6.4% in 2025
👥 Current Population: 32.7 million (Median Age: 18.3 years)
📡 Internet Users: 11.23M (38.4% penetration)
🏙️ Urbanised population: 49%
📡 Internet Users: 11.23 million (38.4% Internet Penetration)
📱 Mobile Connections: 43.59 million (149.1% of the population)
📲 Social Media Users: 7.00 million (2024)
🔥 Top Social Platforms: Facebook (7M), X (221.6K), Instagram (1.10M),
LinkedIn (1.30M).

Major Trade Partners:
Imports: China, Nigeria, France, India, United States
Exports: Netherlands, United States, Switzerland.

Why Côte d’Ivoire is a Market to Watch?

✅ A Regional Economic Powerhouse: Contributes over a third of WAEMU’s GDP and 60% of its agricultural exports.

✅ Booming Agriculture: World leader in cocoa & cashew nuts, with massive opportunities for local processing and export.

✅ High-Potential Mining & Energy Sector: Rich in gold, manganese, nickel, and bauxite, in addition to untapped oil and gas reserves.

✅ Infrastructure & Trade Hub: Home to Sub-Saharan Africa’s second-largest port and a fast-growing transport network.

✅ Expanding Consumer Market: Rising demand for fish, poultry, and processed agricultural products.

✅ Business-Friendly Environment: Recognised by the World Bank for ongoing economic and regulatory reforms.

From its leadership in agriculture and mining to a booming consumer market and improving business climate, Côte d’Ivoire presents exciting opportunities for businesses looking to invest, trade, and expand in West Africa.

At ETK Group, we specialise in helping businesses expand into Africa’s high-growth markets, offering market entry strategies, investment insights, and local partnerships.

Let’s connect and explore how we can support your expansion into West Africa.

Sources: Data Reportal, IMF

Expanding Horizons: How UK Businesses Can Succeed in Emerging Markets

  • 25th January, 2025
  • < 1 min reading

ETK Group managing director, Bolaji Sofoluwe MBE, recently shared her expert perspective on the future of international trade and the many opportunities for UK businesses in high-growth markets, particularly across Africa.

In an interview with Entrepreneur United Kingdom, Bolaji highlighted the key sectors driving growth and the strategic approaches businesses need to thrive globally in 2025.

From health tech and agribusiness to fintech and renewable energy, Bolaji explored how UK companies can successfully navigate new markets by leveraging cultural intelligence, local partnerships, and sustainable trade practices.

Click here to read the full insights 

Bolaji Sofoluwe, Honoured with MBE in King Charles III’s New Year’s Honours List

  • 31st December, 2024
  • < 1 min reading

ETK Group managing director, Bolaji Sofoluwe MBE, was awarded Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in His Majesty King Charles III’s New Year’s Honours List for 2025 in recognition for her outstanding contributions to sustainable business growth, female entrepreneurship, and international trade.

This prestigious recognition reflects Bolaji’s relentless commitment to creating opportunities and breaking barriers for businesses and entrepreneurs. Through her work, she has not only championed innovative and inclusive growth strategies but also forged international partnerships that have opened doors to new trade and commerce opportunities.

Under Bolaji’s leadership, ETK Group has successfully executed projects across more than 34 African countries over the past 14 years, facilitating trade and investment exceeding £1 billion. During this period, we have supported businesses across diverse sectors, including aviation, financial services, health tech, oil and gas, agriculture, luxury goods, fashion and beauty, and manufacturing.

Congratulations, Bolaji!  Your recognition is well-deserved and an inspiration to us all at ETK Group.

Also, a big congratulations to everyone honoured in this year’s list for their outstanding contributions to the growth and success of both the public and private sectors.

Click the link to see the full New Year Honours List 2025:
https://lnkd.in/eiyaU8S8

Bolaji Sofoluwe Named Finalist for Global Entrepreneur of the Year Award 2024

  • 14th November, 2024
  • < 1 min reading

ETK had the honour of joining the incredible UK entrepreneurial community at the 2024 Allica Bank Great British Entrepreneur Awards & Community.

ETK Managing Director, Bolaji Sofoluwe, was shortlisted as a finalist in the Global Entrepreneur of the Year category, a powerful demonstration of her remarkable leadership and ETK Group’s ongoing mission to create a global impact.

But this celebration was about more than awards. It was a reminder of the transformative force of entrepreneurship.

Collectively, the finalists represented businesses that generate £2.9 billion in turnover and provide 20,000 jobs, an extraordinary contribution to the UK economy.

At ETK Group, this recognition highlights our core values: resilience, innovation, and the bold pursuit of empowering businesses to confidently navigate global markets.

To every winner and finalist, congratulations. Your dedication inspires us all.

We are proud to share this space with you! Here’s to driving continued impactful growth together.

Bolaji Sofoluwe named among UK’s Top 100 Influential Africans for the Second Consecutive Year

  • 25th October, 2024
  • < 1 min reading

Bolaji Sofoluwe MBE

ETK Group Managing Director Bolaji Sofoluwe has been named in The Powerlist 2025 for the second year in a row!

This prestigious recognition, published by Powerful Media in partnership with J.P. Morgan, spotlights the top 100 influential individuals of African, African-Caribbean, and African-American heritage in the UK, across business, technology, science, and the arts.

Bolaji expressed it best:

“I am honoured to be named in The Powerlist 2025 for the second year running, alongside such incredible individuals. This recognition would not have been possible without the relentless dedication and support of my team at ETK Group. This award is a reflection of all that we’ve accomplished together.” Bolaji Sofoluwe


Also, huge congratulations to everyone who made it onto this year’s PowerList!

Let’s celebrate these trailblazers shaping the future! 🚀

Powerlist2025

Photo Credit 📷 https://lnkd.in/dsBWgfrk

The African Diaspora…A Force Driving Africa’s Growth and Prosperity!

  • 8th September, 2024
  • < 1 min reading

Africans in the diaspora have made and continue to make a remarkable impact on the continent.

With an estimated 200 million people of African descent living outside Africa according to the World Economic Forum—over 1.5 million of them in the UK— the connection to their roots remains strong despite living thousands of kilometers away from the continent.

From sending remittances to investing in their home countries and contributing to the overall development of the continent, the African diaspora plays a very important role in the continent’s prosperity.

According to the United Nations, remittances to Africa have doubled in the last decade, surpassing $100 billion in 2022—exceeding both Official Development Assistance (ODA) and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)!

Recently, CNN‘s Eleni Giokos spoke with ETK managing director Bolaji Sofoluwe and other diaspora business leaders on how they’re maintaining strong ties to Africa while contributing to its growth.

Watch Bolaji’s interview starting at 15:35 minutes here: https://bit.ly/3Mxwi2X

Unlocking Nigeria’s Non-Oil Potential for Sustainable Growth and Global Competitiveness

  • 8th September, 2024
  • 2 min reading

Economic diversification, regional integration, export value chain consolidation, export infrastructure development, and export financing were among the key discussion points at the recently concluded 2024 Zenith Bank Plc International Trade Seminar.

The event, which was the 9th edition of the seminar was held at the iconic Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria, on Wednesday, September 4, 2024, under the theme “Nigerian Non-Oil Export Industry: Awakening the Giant.” It brought together stakeholders and experts from the Nigerian export sector to explore strategies for boosting the country’s non-oil export market.

During the panel session, Nigerian Non-Oil Export Industry: Awakening the Giant, ETK’s Managing Director, Bolaji Sofoluwe, along with other esteemed panelists including Dr. Williams Kanya, Hon. Otunba Tola Faseru, Dr. Obiora Madu, Mr. Adeniran Ige, FCA and Mevis Aiyeju, provided valuable insights on how to develop and expand the country’s non-oil sector to unlock its full export potential.

From the welcome address delivered by GMD/CEO of Zenith Bank PLC, Dame Dr Adaora Umeoji OON, to goodwill messages from Lagos State’s Honourable Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade & Investment, Mrs. Folashade Ambrose-Medebem, keynote speeches from Secretary of the AfCFTA, Mr. Olusegun Awolowo, and MD of NEXIM Bank, Alhaji Abba Bello, the seminar witnessed unified calls for more focused efforts on adding value to Nigeria’s non-oil export products, transforming them from raw materials into semi-finished and finished goods to unlock greater economic benefits for the country.

Key takeaways from the event included:

📌 The urgent need for comprehensive port reforms to ease congestion and reduce export costs.

📌Sector consolidation and improvement of export and logistics infrastructure to enhance #market access.

📌Greater regional integration through #AfCFTA initiatives to boost the quality and competitiveness of Nigeria’s non-oil exports.

📌Increased export financing to elevate the value of non-oil products and improve the business environment for manufacturers.

📌Addressing insecurity to attract #investment into the Nigerian export sector.

📌Developing and enhancing the service sector to stimulate #growth and drive service exports.

📌Establishing a unified customs union across the continent to lower shipping costs within African and international markets.

Bolaji Sofoluwe

As an African-focused market entry and trade expansion consultancy, this seminar aligns with our mission to facilitate #trade and #business opportunities across the continent.

A big thank you to Zenith Bank Plc for consistently championing Nigeria’s non-oil export sector and identifying emerging opportunities to drive growth in this important sector.

The Africa Social Impact Summit (ASIS), 2024

  • 27th July, 2024
  • < 1 min reading

On July 25–26, 2024, ETK took part in the Africa Social Impact Summit 2024 (ASIS 3.0).

The two-day summit held under the theme “Reimagining Progress: A New Blueprint for Sustainable Growth in Africa.” was a resounding success!

From networking opportunities with businesses to learn about their social impact projects on the continent to helping SMEs and businesses understand how ETK can support their business goals and their social impact initiatives in Africa, we had a fantastic time at the summit.

Co-convened by the Sterling One Foundation and United Nations Nigeria, the summit featured enlightening and thought-provoking discussions, evidence-based insights, and action plans for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs in Africa.

For two days, the summit brought together over 2000 forward-thinking and socially conscious professionals from the private and public sectors, civil society organisations, and development communities across Africa with the mission of inspiring investors to support existing African solutions addressing critical issues such as climate change, the circular economy, education, health, WASH, renewable energy, and agriculture on the continent.

From the opening remarks, insightful debate, panel sessions, and roundtable discussions at the event, the event was focused on strategies to increase investment and funding for impactful projects that foster sustainable economic growth and development in Africa.

ETK Group specialises in providing SMEs across Africa with access to markets and business opportunities, as well as a range of tailored services to impact investors in Africa, enabling them to achieve their goals. This summit was fully aligned with our goals of supporting investment and sustainable development in Africa.

If you’re a business or social impact investor and want to know more about how ETK can support your business sustainability goals in Africa, please do reach out!

Investing in Lagos: Highlights from the Private Sector Roundtable with ETK Group, Sterling One Foundation and Alitheia Capital.

  • 25th July, 2024
  • < 1 min reading

On July 24, 2024, ETK Group and Alitheia Capital co-sponsored an investor’s roundtable with the Lagos State Government under the theme “Opportunities Made in Lagos,” in partnership with Sterling One Foundation and the Lagos State Ministry of Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade, and Investment.

The event, which was a pre-summit panel for the Africa Social Impact 3.0 Summit 2024 held in Lagos on July 25–26, provided an opportunity for potential investors and donors to connect with key decision-makers in the state and for the state government to present its ambitious investment focus and key areas of opportunity to potential investors.

At ETK Group, we do not just believe in Africa’s development potential; we are helping shape the narratives of investment and development on the continent by connecting investors and businesses with investment opportunities in the African market.

Lagos State is projecting a positive economic outlook for the state, driven by the leadership of his Excellency, the executive governor of Lagos State, Babjide Sanwo Olu, the expanding population, and the ongoing sustainable infrastructure development in the state. We are happy to be part of this.

In the last couple of years, Lagos’s economy has shown remarkable resilience, welcoming new investment policies to guarantee returns to investors.

As a leading investment destination in Africa and the 7th largest economy on the continent, Lagos has been proactive in implementing business-friendly policies, including a constant review of the state’s Ease of Doing Business policies to reduce the challenges associated with new business registration, obtaining permits, and helping to eliminate bureaucratic bottlenecks.

Global Entrepreneur of the Year 2024

  • 5th July, 2024
  • < 1 min reading

We are delighted to announce that ETK Group has been shortlisted for the 2024 Allica Bank Great British Entrepreneur Awards – Global Entrepreneur of the Year category for the East of England region! https://bit.ly/3VX48UQ

The Great British Entrepreneur Awards & Community, often referred to as the “Grammys of Entrepreneurship,” celebrate the achievements of the UK’s most dynamic and innovative businesses.

Each year, the awards receive thousands of applications, demonstrating the competitive nature and high standard of the competition. This year’s shortlist showcases businesses with a combined turnover of £2.9 billion and approximately 20,000 employees, highlighting the significant roles of these businesses in driving economic growth across the UK.

This award is a testament to the hard work of the ETK team and our commitment to the growth of the UK’s economy and businesses. We’re excited about what the future holds for our mission to support UK businesses in expanding into other markets.

We look forward to celebrating with other finalists on the 18th November, 2024 at the JW Marriott Grosvenor House London.