Ivory Coast highlights development financing at African Development Bank event
The Ivory Coast Government, led by Dr. Souleymane DIARRASSOUBA, Minister of Planning and Development, presented its strategies for mobilizing large-scale resources to finance national development during the launch of the 2026 Côte d’Ivoire Country Report (RP-CI) and the West Africa Economic Outlook (PER-AO) by the African Development Bank (AfDB). The event, held in Abidjan on July 28, was chaired by Pr. Loesse Jacques ESSO, Cabinet Director representing the Minister, and brought together AfDB officials, financial institutions, the private sector, and Ivorian government representatives.
The theme, “Mobilizing large-scale resources for Africa’s development in a fragmented world”, aligns closely with Ivory Coast’s national priorities. Under the leadership of President Alassane Ouattara, the government has prioritized resource mobilization as a key driver of economic transformation. This goal is embedded in the National Development Plan (PND) 2026-2030, which aims to accelerate growth by leveraging both public and private financing.
Pr. Loesse Jacques ESSO, speaking on behalf of the Minister, praised the strong partnership between Ivory Coast and the AfDB. He emphasized that the institution’s reports serve as critical decision-making tools, guiding public policy formulation and strengthening collaboration with development partners.
Highlighting the economic landscape, he noted that Africa’s projected growth of 3.9% in 2025 reflects steady progress across the continent. Ivory Coast, with an estimated growth rate of 6.5%, is among the top performers, inching closer to the targets set by the African Union’s Agenda 2063.
He underscored the magnitude of the challenge: financing the PND 2026-2030, valued at 114.8 trillion FCFA (approximately $209 billion), remains one of the most critical hurdles in transforming Ivory Coast’s economy. The success of the July 2026 Consultative Group meeting, which secured over $80 billion (47.8 trillion FCFA), demonstrates international confidence in Ivory Coast’s development vision and its ability to attract massive investments.
Beyond Ivory Coast, Pr. Loesse Jacques ESSO stressed that the reports’ findings reflect a shared continental priority: the urgent need to mobilize substantial resources to accelerate structural economic transformation. This requires strengthening domestic revenue collection, deepening private capital engagement, reinforcing African financial systems, and advancing regional integration through initiatives like the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
He urged participants to engage deeply with the reports’ analyses and recommendations, calling for collective reflection on the roles and responsibilities of government agencies, the private sector, financial institutions, and civil society in crafting more effective development financing policies—both in Ivory Coast and across West Africa.