Mauritius Commercial Bank (MCB) plans to open a branch in Côte d’Ivoire, expanding its African footprint. Frédérique Lam, honorary consul of Mauritius, presented the project to Ivorian Foreign Minister Nialé Kaba on June 18.
The move comes as Mauritian investments in Côte d’Ivoire surpass $1 billion. Over 120 Mauritian companies now operate in various sectors of the Ivorian economy.
If the project goes ahead, MCB will become the first Mauritian bank to operate in the country. The Ivorian banking sector currently includes 29 banks and four financial institutions.
Côte d’Ivoire ranks second among WAEMU countries for banking penetration, with 33.6% of adults holding formal bank accounts.
The expansion reflects the broader Africa strategy of MCB. As of December 2025, the bank operated subsidiaries in Seychelles, Madagascar, Réunion, and the Maldives, with representative offices in Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, the UAE, and France.
Mauritius Commercial Bank also recently announced a $1 billion trade finance facility to support intra-African trade and industrial projects across the continent.
The group secured a $450 million syndicated loan in February 2026 to drive expansion.
Steve KOUAKOU
