VCA-Valadas Coriel & Associados law firm through its dedicated practice group VCA Africa, has established a co-operation agreement with the law offices of Eric Kondo, Esq., a prominent lawyer in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.
Experienced partner Vera Chalaça with a longstanding career on international projects moved to Abidjan to create a Portuguese desk at the law offices of Eric Kondo.
The focus is in advising Portuguese firms investing and exporting to Ivory Coast.
Vera will be assisted by the Lisbon team of VCA Africa, a seven-lawyer string team coordinated by partner Paulino Brilhante Santos, a lawyer with more than 20 years of experience working in Africa.
Partner Vera Chalaça said: “This move of VCA corresponds to the enormous interest Portuguese companies have demonstrated in investing and exporting to Ivory Coast, one of the fastest growing economies of the world. Ivory Coast boasts a GDP growth of 8% last year and is considered to be one of the top 10 African countries with greatest potential by several international organizations. Ivory Coast has already several large Portuguese companies operating in the infrastructure and construction sector, with multi-million dollar projects for selective collection and disposal of solid waste, electricity production, construction of a new football stadium, the highest East African office tower, among others. Other opportunities for investments exist in agrobusiness, fishing, trading and retail, oil & gas, renewable energies, mining sector, telecoms, IT, finance and real estate. Portugal has a double taxation treaty with Ivory Coast and a low tax regime for holding companies and the Madeira International Business Centre and can, especially after Brexit, be a favorable option as a hub for investments in the Ivory Coast“.
João Valadas Coriel, managing partner of VCA commented that due to the “growing ties with Portuguese businesses and the friendly environment for Portuguese investments and exports, made Ivory Coast the logical first step for the internationalization of VCA which started with the creation of its dedicated practice group VCA Africa.”
