On July 20, Côte d’Ivoire unveiled a bold economic strategy centered on strengthening homegrown private enterprises, designated as national champions to propel the nation’s development through 2030. This initiative marks a deliberate shift from public-led growth toward an economy increasingly shaped by Ivorian businesses.
Four strategic sectors spotlight Ivorian champions
The government has identified standout companies in key industries: natural cosmetics, digital banking, oil and gas distribution, and aviation. Kaera, a leader in natural cosmetics, employs over 600 people and exports to 30 countries. Djamo, a fintech startup launched in 2020, has already amassed 2 million users, showcasing the rapid expansion of digital financial services. Petro Ivoire, a fuel distributor, is also among the chosen firms, aiming to boost local value creation.
Over $80 billion in international backing secured
In July, Côte d’Ivoire secured more than $80 billion in international commitments to fund the 2026–2030 National Development Plan (NDP). These funds will support infrastructure, private sector support, and high-potential industries. The PEPITE-CI 2030 program, led by the Ministry of Finance, has already identified 27 winning enterprises in its first cohort as of December 2025, offering them technical, financial, and strategic support to accelerate growth.
Côte d’Ivoire’s economic backdrop
With 15 years of steady growth fueled by public investments in infrastructure and agriculture, Côte d’Ivoire stands as the world’s top cocoa producer and a leading economic hub in West Africa. The 2026–2030 NDP signals a pivotal turn toward private-sector leadership amid intensifying regional competition with Ghana and Senegal. Other African nations, including Senegal with its Emerging Senegal Plan, are also prioritizing homegrown champions to diversify their economies. Côte d’Ivoire aims to leverage its demographic dynamism and strategic location to attract foreign investment.
Building a competitive regional economy
The government’s goal is to cultivate a robust ecosystem of enterprises capable of competing regionally and globally. This strategy seeks to reduce reliance on raw material exports and foster high-value-added local industries. While the timeline for deploying support measures for new PEPITE-CI cohorts remains unspecified, success will hinge on the selected companies’ ability to sustain growth and generate large-scale employment in the coming years.