As part of the activities to promote and disseminate the laws of the Organization for the Harmonization of Business Law in Africa (OHADA), and in a bid to better sensitize investors and private sector actors from France and Morocco on the advantages and opportunities provided by the OHADA Law, the Permanent Secretariat of OHADA organized in France and Morocco the OHADA Days for economic actors, private sector investors, law professionals, academic communities as well as ministries of justice of OHADA Member Countries. The OHADA Days, financed by the Investment Climate Facility Fund for Africa (ICF), were held at hotel MARIOTT Rive Gauche of Paris (France) and at SOFITEL hotel in Casablanca (Morocco) on 13 April 2015 and 17 April 2015 respectively.

The First OHADA Days organized outside of the OHADA geographical space witnessed the presence of actors mainly from the judicial world such as lawyers, bailiffs, notaries, private sector investors, Embassies of OHADA Member Countries (Ambassadors, Advisers on economic issues) and academics.

The OHADA Day in Paris was chaired by His Excellency Mr. Charles GOMIS, Ambassador of the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire in France, in the presence of the Permanent Secretary of OHADA, Professor Dorothé Cossi SOSSA. Speaking at the event, the Ambassador of the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire in France congratulated the Permanent Secretary for this great initiative, which is likely to enhance the international influence of OHADA. The representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the French Republic, Mrs Anne RAPIN lauded the exemplary relations that exist between OHADA and France, and reiterated the commitment of the French Republic to support OHADA.

The First OHADA Days in Paris and Casablanca aroused great interest among the business community and investors from France and Morocco. The event was marked by presentations by distinguished professors, senior judges and renowned lawyers on substantial themes such as the OHADA law on commercial companies, securities and arbitration. The event helped to:

• disseminate and better inform on the advantages and opportunities offered by the OHADA law as regards investment;
• promote investment in the OHADA space and highlight the legal and judicial security provided by the OHADA law;
• promote arbitration as a tool for the settlement of contractual disputes;
• highlight the OHADA key instruments that help guarantee a favourable investment climate.

On the sidelines of the event, the Permanent Secretary granted interviews to some television channels of France and Morocco. The interviews allowed him to further emphasize on the advantages and opportunities that are offered by OHADA law.