Results of agri-entrepreneurship contest Transform in Cote d’Ivoire

Following the success of the first edition of the agricultural contest organized in Côte d’Ivoire by l’Institut Européen de Coopération et de Développement (IECD) and Louis Dreyfus Foundation (LDF) on 12 June 2019, we held this year the second edition of the contest and announced the three winners on 15 October. The event was hosted at the Palm Club Hotel in Cocody, in compliance with Covid-19 safety measures.

Nadia Gouda’s leading local enterprize Aydan Food, which produces dairy products, won the first award and received a grant of 7 million francs CFA. The second award, together with a grant of 4 million francs CFA was given to Cécile Asfata Kouadio and her enterprise Timya producing concentrated juice called ‘bissap”. Ghislain Koffi Kouakou from Miensah group received the 3rd award and got a grant of 2.5 million CFA to further develop his production of manioc instant side dish called “gari”. 

These entrepreneurs were selected on the basis of their projects’ innovative approach, the economic benefits they are creating for rural communities, their significant job creation potential and their promotion of women inclusion. 

“The objective of this platform is to promote and empower projects that create links between small producers and the Ivorian consumer market to boost economic development of rural communities and reduce poverty”, commented Ludovic M'Bahia Blé, Country Manager of Louis Dreyfus Company in Cote d’Ivoire and member of the jury of the contest. 

With the "Transform" center, LDF has been supporting agri-food entrepreneurs since 2019. Thanks to this program, four entrepreneurs have already benefited from personalized support in marketing and business management. Following the ceremony, the three new winners will in turn join the "Transform" center’s incubation program.