On October 5, 2026, Ivoirian Vice President Tiémoko Meyliet Koné met with Dr. George Agyekum Donkor, President of the West African Development and Investment Bank (BIDC), at the Presidential Palace. The meeting focused on financing for key projects and strengthening cooperation between the Ivoirian government and the regional financial institution. The BIDC will provide $1.5 billion to support Côte d'Ivoire's 2026-2030 National Development Plan (PND).
The Ivoirian Vice President expressed the government's satisfaction with the partnership, highlighting the confidence of international partners in President Alassane Ouattara's vision for a more prosperous, resilient, and competitive Côte d'Ivoire. Koné emphasized that national development relies on solid partnerships based on a shared vision and lasting trust.
Dr. George Agyekum Donkor reaffirmed the BIDC's commitment to supporting Côte d'Ivoire's structural transformation through industrialization, digitalization, and human capital development. Since 2011, Côte d'Ivoire has been the primary beneficiary of BIDC interventions, with the bank's engagement in the country accelerating under President Ouattara's leadership.
As of March 2021, the BIDC had committed $1.2 billion to 37 projects in Côte d'Ivoire, with 12 projects under execution worth $107 billion FCFA. The sectors covered by this partnership include infrastructure, energy, digitalization, water, healthcare, education, industry, tourism, and support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
In 2024, the BIDC granted $36 billion FCFA to Côte d'Ivoire to support SME development. Specifically, $10 billion FCFA was allocated to BSIC-CI for SMEs in healthcare, education, agro-industry, and construction. Additionally, $26.23 billion FCFA was provided to the Multinational Bitumen Company (SMB) to facilitate imports and large infrastructure projects.
The BIDC and the Ivoirian Housing Bank (BHCI) signed a $10 billion FCFA agreement on September 3, 2026, to boost housing supply and support SMEs in the real estate sector. The bank also co-financed the rehabilitation of the Abidjan-Adzopé road corridor with $5.512 billion FCFA, a vital artery for cocoa, coffee, and wood.
The strengthened cooperation between Côte d'Ivoire and the BIDC is built on convergent strategies, with the bank's approach aligned with the country's priorities. The BIDC inaugurated its first regional office in Abidjan on December 1, 2025, to enhance project monitoring and coordination in Côte d'Ivoire and the sub-region.
Key points
- The BIDC will provide $1.5 billion to support Côte d'Ivoire's 2026-2030 National Development Plan.
- Côte d'Ivoire has been the primary beneficiary of BIDC interventions since 2011, with $1.2 billion committed to 37 projects.
- The BIDC and Ivoirian government have strengthened cooperation in various sectors, including infrastructure, energy, and SME development.
