Gbôklê Region

The Gbôklê Region is located in the South-West of Côte d'Ivoire and is subdivided into two (02) Departments: Sassandra (Capital) and Fresco. It covers an area of 7,225 km², which is 2.24% of the national territory.

• The population of the region is as follows:

Source: INS, RGPH 2021

• Sassandra, the capital of the region, is a Local Economic Connector (a small town that is at an embryonic stage of urbanization facilitating internal economies of scale, such as hosting a large company that processes local agricultural products) and has a strong agricultural and tourism vocation (Study on the Competitive Economic Pole Development Program - PEC, 2018);

• An industrial zone exists in the Sassandra department with an industrial land reserve of 30 ha (MCIPPME, 2022);
• Mobile network coverage (July 2023): 100% of localities and 100% of the population are covered;
• Health: The health infrastructure in the region covers most of the technical platforms.

Source: MSHPCMU, 2022

The key sectors of activity include agriculture and agro-industry, animal resources, fishery resources, and tourism.

• Agriculture:

Source: MEMINADERPV, 2023 ND: Not Available

• Animal Resources:

Source: MIRAH, estimate 2022

• Agro-industry: existence of 03 oil mills, a cassava processing plant in Gaoulou, and centers for purchasing natural rubber;
• Fishery Resources: Fish, Crustaceans, Mollusks;
• Tourism: the tourism offerings of the region include:
• beaches (over 200 km of coastline, the bays of Drevin, Bassa, Zuzuoko, Kosso, Yaba beach, …);
• cliffs (Fresco and Sassandra River) and lagoons, historical sites (Governor's house);
• General Weigand Bridge;
• the Wharf;
• Saint Andrew's Cathedral;
• the war memorial;
• Gaoulou Island;
• the mouth of the Sassandra River and the Ocean;
• Gaoulou National Park.

As part of the implementation of the National Development Plan 2021-2025 (PND 2021-2025), the Gbôklê Region is included in the area covered by the Agro-pole for the transformation of cash crops supplying the Port of San Pedro (Agro-pole 7).

Investment opportunities exist in the following sectors:

• Agriculture and Agro-industry: Investments in the development of food crop sectors (Rice, Plantain Banana, Cassava), cash crop sectors (Cocoa, Rubber, Oil Palm, Coffee), the fisheries sector, and the processing of these agricultural products.
• Mining and Oil Resources: Exploration and exploitation of iron, nickel, cobalt, manganese, gold, and oil;
• Fisheries Resources: Modernization of river fishing in the watershed (artisanal fishing currently practiced by locals);
• Tourism: Organization of tourist circuits and hotel complexes;
• National Education: Creation of schools (construction and operation);
• Other projects: Construction of a fishing port in Sassandra, construction of a multifunctional and sports complex.

Some priority projects and actions have been identified for the benefit of the Gbôklê Region, including:

Source: MEPD, 2024 / PS-Gouv2