Ambassador of Côte d’Ivoire to Japan, H.E. Mr Ipo Gbolié Désiré Wulfran, visits ITTO Secretariat
2026/05/26
ITTO Executive Director Sheam Satkuru (right) and Ambassador of Côte d’Ivoire to Japan, H.E. Mr Ipo Gbolié Désiré Wulfran (left). © Mitch St.Hilaire/ITTO
On Thursday, 21 May 2026, the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) received an official visit from the Ambassador of Côte d’Ivoire to Japan, H.E. Mr Ipo Gbolié Désiré Wulfran.
ITTO Executive Director Sheam Satkuru met with the ambassador to discuss the longstanding partnership between ITTO and Côte d’Ivoire. Both parties reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation and exploring opportunities to further expand collaboration.
During the meeting, the importance of the annual International Tropical Timber Council (ITTC) was emphasized. This year’s 62nd session, to be held in Yokohama from 9–14 November, is particularly significant as it will mark ITTO’s 40-year anniversary and include the first Preparatory Committee meeting for the renegotiation of the International Tropical Timber Agreement.
Côte d’Ivoire has been a member of ITTO since March 1985. Since joining the Organization, the country has received more than USD 17 million in funding for projects in areas including capacity building for women in forestry, forest fire management, the development of wood-based industries, and support for programmes to improve cloning and seedling production techniques.