Jean-Louis Billon (SIFCA): his plan for the Ivorian presidential election

by time news

Published on :

Our first major guest from the economy RFI / Jeune Afrique is a major boss involved in politics in his country: Côte d’Ivoire. Jean-Louis Billon, shareholder of SIFCA, the leading private group in Côte d’Ivoire, agrifood giant (turnover: 358 million euros) and major player in the West African economy founded by his father, today co-directed by your brother Pierre and Alassane Doumbia.

Jean-Louis Billon chairs the Board of Directors of two of his most important subsidiaries: Société Africaine de Plantations d’Hévéas (SAPH), which specializes in the production and processing of rubber, and SucrIvoire, one of the main domestic cane sugar producers. SIFCA is also a palm oil producer and employs a total of over 30,000 people in Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia, Ghana and Nigeria.

Jean Louis Billon

⇒ The SIFCA group.

While retaining the image of boss in the public opinion, Jean-Louis Billon has since 2012 been better known for his political commitment at the national level. From 2012 to 2017, he became Minister of Trade. When he left the government, he left the presidential party to join the PDCI, pleading for a break with the camp of head of state Alassane Ouattara. A betrayal that will earn him the loss of the presidency of the Hambol region by decision of the Council of Ministers. In 2021, he was elected deputy for Dabakala, a stronghold of his family located in the north of the country. He cultivates in the National Assembly an image of opponent of government policy. A few months later, he announced his candidacy for the 2025 presidential election, always keeping an eye on economic issues.

Jean-Louis Billon interviewed by Julien Clémençot (Jeune Afrique) and Bruno Faure (RFI). © Vincent Fournier/Young Africa

During this program, Bruno Faure (RFI) and Julien Clémençot (Jeune Afrique) question Jean-Louis Billon on the main current issues: the cost of living, the price of basic necessities, tensions on the oil and sugar, the social and economic policy of the Ivorian government, the role of large companies in this country for its growth, relations with France, which continues to invest there, regional economic integration, the future of the franc CFA, that of the cocoa sector, the issues surrounding the port of Abidjan after the sale of the activities of the Bolloré group to MSC and the campaign for the 2025 presidential election within the PDCI.

Find us on :

Facebook

Twitter

Julien Clémençot, Jean-Louis Billon and Bruno Faure in front of the France Médias Monde building.
Julien Clémençot, Jean-Louis Billon and Bruno Faure in front of the France Médias Monde building. © Vincent Fournier/Young Africa

You may also like

Leave a Comment