"A plane took off this morning with about 40 people," said Jean-Luc Courneau of the French company Geos, which has got contracts from some firms to arrange the evacuation for their workers and dependents.
He said they were being sent to nearby countries.
The French economic mission in Ivory Coast said the majority of the estimated 500 French nationals already sent out by their employers or due to leave in the coming hours were spouses and children of expatriate workers.
It said only a few firms had repatriated their staff.
Companies which evacuated their employees or their families include Bollore, Bouygues, Air Liquide, France Telecom, Groupe Peyrissac and three leading banks - BNP-Paribas, Societe Generale and Credit Lyonnais.
A weekend accord in Paris to end Ivory Coast's four-month war has fuelled outrage at the prospect of rebels who took half the country in September getting top government jobs.
French firms began flying expatriates to safety after violence by youths who contend Paris has betrayed its former colony and humiliated President Laurent Gbagbo by forcing him to accept the pact - Sapa-AFP.
EMAIL THIS ARTICLE SAVE THIS ARTICLE FEEDBACK
To subscribe email subscriptions@creamermedia.co.za or click here
To advertise email advertising@creamermedia.co.za or click here
