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By, Moses Akaigwe
The maiden edition of Equip Auto Côte d’Ivoire is set to provide a major boost to West Africa’s automotive industry by stimulating regional trade, strengthening cross-border partnerships and creating new business opportunities across the mobility value chain.
This was disclosed by the president of Interlinks Auto and MIWA Africa SARL, Mr. Luc Azilinon, during a press conference held on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.
MIWA Africa SARL is a mobility holding company that partners with Equip Auto Paris to organise major automotive trade exhibitions in West Africa, specifically launching the maidenEquip Auto Côte d’Ivoire show.
The press conference was convened by the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Promosalons Nigeria, Cameroon and Gabon, Mr. Akin Akinbola, representing the organisers of Equip Auto Côte d’Ivoire for Nigeria and Cameroon.
Azilinon announced that more than 150 exhibitors and brands spanning the entire automotive value chain will participate in the inaugural exhibition, scheduled to hold from November 26 to 28, 2026, at the Abidjan Exhibition Centre in Côte d’Ivoire.
He explained that Equip Auto Côte d’Ivoire is the result of a collaboration between Equip Auto Paris and MIWA Africa SARL, marking the exhibition’s expansion into sub-Saharan Africa.
According to him, the three-day event will combine exhibitions, thematic workshops, conferences, B2B2C meetings, demonstrations and live vehicle testing, while attracting about 10,000 professionals, visitors and members of the general public from across the mobility and automotive sectors.
In line with regional realities and market dynamics, Azilinon said the exhibition will cover passenger vehicles, light commercial vehicles, industrial vehicles, transport, the automotive aftermarket, agriculture and public works.
He further disclosed that exhibitors are expected from Germany, France, Türkiye, Italy, Algeria, Nigeria, Cameroon, India, China, South Korea and Japan, highlighting the international appeal of the event.
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He said the ambition is to establish Equip Auto Côte d’Ivoire as the leading platform for business development in West Africa by combining innovation with commerce and positioning the region as a strategic hub for mobility and the automotive industry across the African continent.
“With an innovative BtoBtoC format, Equip Auto Côte d’Ivoire aims to become the structuring meeting point for mobility in West Africa. The launch of Equip Auto Côte d’Ivoire marks a major milestone in the international development of the brand,” Azilinon stated.
Highlighting the benefits of the exhibition, he said the event will create a strategic meeting hub for manufacturers, distributors, repairers, fleet operators and public sector stakeholders, while providing privileged access to innovations, technologies and solutions specifically designed for the realities of the West African market.
He added that the exhibition will stimulate regional trade, encourage cross-border partnerships, support the modernisation of infrastructure, distribution networks and professional practices, and facilitate the establishment of international companies within West Africa by easing access to regional markets.
Speaking on why automotive brands should participate in the maiden edition, Azilinon described the event as a strategic first edition taking place in one of Africa’s fastest-growing markets.
He noted that the exhibition offers broad coverage of the automotive ecosystem, ranging from passenger vehicles and light commercial vehicles to heavy-duty vehicles, transport, logistics, agriculture, public works and infrastructure.
Explaining the choice of Côte d’Ivoire as the host country, the Interlinks Auto President cited the country’s political stability, strong governance, modern infrastructure and growing regional influence.
According to him, Côte d’Ivoire has consolidated executive authority following the 2025 elections, enjoys institutional stability that supports investment, and continues to play an active role within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
He also noted that the country has attracted significant investments in construction, transport and energy, while the Port of Abidjan remains one of West Africa’s leading maritime hubs. He described Abidjan as the region’s economic capital, a strategic logistics platform and a natural gateway to West Africa.
Azilinon further revealed that Côte d’Ivoire has maintained strong macroeconomic performance, recording an economic growth rate of 6.5 per cent in 2024, driven by agriculture, agribusiness, infrastructure and services.
The press conference was attended by representatives of the diplomatic community, industry stakeholders and the media. The Ambassador of Côte d’Ivoire to Nigeria, His Excellency Ambassador KalilouTraoré, was represented at the event by Dr. KaslimeKouassi.
