E-commerce in Côte d'Ivoire is booming, offering opportunities for jobs and rising incomes, despite ongoing challenges. As the Ivorian government seeks to generate more revenue, the authorities want to tap into the sector.
The digital and new technology sector in Côte d'Ivoire is growing rapidly, promoting the rise of e-commerce. That is why the Ivorian government intends to regulate the sector to generate revenue, imposing an 18% VAT on platform operations.
According to the official statement from the Treasury Department, this tax will apply to all e-commerce platforms based in Côte d'Ivoire or elsewhere: online stores, advertising services, data services, online games, cloud computing services, social networks, and search engines. Foreign platforms with no physical presence in Côte d'Ivoire but operating in the country will also have to comply with this new regulation, the aim of which is to ensure a level playing field between e-commerce players and traditional businesses.
According to a report by the Ivorian Telecommunications/ICT Regulatory Authority (ARTCI), the digital economy sector already contributes more than 9% of Côte d'Ivoire's GDP.
Numerous analyses and reports agree that e-commerce could become a real driver of growth in Côte d'Ivoire, as in other African countries. However, obstacles remain. Online commerce in Africa is currently subject to constraints that prevent its development and the exploitation of its potential. These include a lack of infrastructure and the development of the internet, which, despite spectacular growth, is not yet accessible to all populations. The vast majority of African consumers remain unable to make online purchases or electronic payments.