On September 19, 2026, hundreds of young job seekers and students flocked to Abidjan's exhibition park to participate in SIA Talent 2026, an initiative organized alongside the 5th edition of the Abidjan Infrastructure Salon (SIA). The event aims to connect young people with companies in the infrastructure and construction sectors. From the early hours of the day, designated recruitment areas were overwhelmed by young graduates, technicians, and students eager to submit their applications and seize professional opportunities offered by participating companies.
The event features 18 national and international companies, including the National Technical Study and Development Bureau (BNETD), Porteo BTP, Lefer, and Côte d'Ivoire Énergies. According to Fanta Traoré-Sako, president and general director of Empower and head of SIA Talent 2026, the initiative includes job dating sessions, allowing candidates to exchange directly with recruiters for a few minutes. Following this initial selection, retained profiles will be received directly by companies to pursue the recruitment process.
The companies participating in SIA Talent 2026 are seeking diverse profiles, ranging from engineers to technicians, site managers, and construction economists. The needs also cover human resources, finance, legal functions, and logistics. Traoré-Sako emphasized that the event covers the entire value chain, from upstream to downstream, and that opportunities are available for both junior and senior profiles.
The SIA Talent initiative aims to offer at least 500 internships and around 250 jobs to young participants, with a long-term goal of reaching 1,000 opportunities. For Traoré-Sako, this mobilization reflects the importance of young people's expectations regarding professional insertion and confirms the relevance of an initiative designed to create a direct link between talents and companies.
To better prepare candidates for their professional insertion, three masterclasses were organized, led by professionals from the infrastructure, construction, and energy sectors. These sessions allowed young people to acquire knowledge about professions, sought-after skills, and career prospects in these sectors.
The SIA Talent initiative also includes an inter-school competition involving eight specialized establishments in infrastructure and construction. Student teams compete in an idea debate around issues related to their field of activity, with the winning teams receiving financial rewards.
Through SIA Talent, the organizers aim to make the Salon not only a meeting space for professionals but also a platform for insertion, training, and discovery of professions for young people wishing to build their future in the infrastructure and construction sectors. The event demonstrates the importance of creating opportunities for young Ivoirians to access the job market.
Key points
- The SIA Talent 2026 initiative aims to offer at least 500 opportunities to young participants.
- The event features 18 national and international companies seeking diverse profiles.
- The initiative includes job dating sessions, masterclasses, and an inter-school competition.
