Nov 23, 2019

Ivory Coast raises more than $6 billion to grow its tourism sector

The coastline in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. Photo: Mahmut Serdar Alakus/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Ivory Coast raised 5.8 billion euros, or $6.4 billion, for its tourism industry during a roundtable in Hamburg, Germany on Friday, Bloomberg reports.

The big picture: The world’s top cocoa producer wants to create 700,000 jobs in tourism and make the sector the third pillar of its economy by 2025.

Due to a 10-year-long conflict that divided the nation into a "rebel-held north and government-run south," that ended in 2011, Ivory Coast’s tourism was wiped out.

The money raised from unnamed investor companies made up the second bid in a month to attract foreign hotels and tour operators.

  • The country‘s government had a $1 billion fundraising goal, but it has already exceeded that amount. Last month Ivory Coast attracted $5 billion in investments at a roadshow in Dubai, but the government’s statement did not provide any additional details.

Go deeper: Investors are dubious of Africa's new cocoa cartel

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Dozens of Confederate symbols removed in wake of George Floyd's death

A statue of Confederate States President Jefferson Davis lies on the street after protesters pulled it down in Richmond, Virginia, in June. Photo: Parker Michels-Boyce/AFP via Getty Images

59 Confederate symbols have been removed, relocated or renamed since anti-racism protests began over George Floyd's death, a new Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) report finds.

Why it matters: That's a marked increase on previous years, per the report, which points out just 16 Confederate monuments were affected in 2019.

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Coronavirus dashboard

Illustration: Annelise Capossela/Axios

  1. Global: Total confirmed cases as of 10:30 p.m. ET: 20,532,835 — Total deaths: 747,845— Total recoveries: 12,743,275 — Map.
  2. U.S.: Total confirmed cases as of 10:30 p.m. ET: 5,193,266 — Total deaths: 165,934 — Total recoveries: 1,714,960 — Total tests: 63,252,257 — Map.
  3. Politics: Pelosi says Mnuchin told her White House is "not budging" on stimulus position.
  4. Business: U.S. already feeling effects of ending unemployment benefits.
  5. Public health: America's two-sided COVID-19 response — America is flying blind on its coronavirus response.
  6. Education: New Jersey governor allows schools to reopen — Gallup: America's confidence in public school system jumps to highest level since 2004.
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Axios
Updated 1 hour ago - Health

World coronavirus updates

Data: The Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins; Map: Axios Visuals

France reported more than 2,500 new COVID-19 cases in 24 hours — the largest single-day number since May. French officials said the situation was "clearly worsening," per France 24.

By the numbers: Over 745,600 people have died of the novel coronavirus globally and over 20.4 million have tested positive, per Johns Hopkins. Almost 12.7 million have recovered from the virus.

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