Simandou 2040 and President Doumbouya’s Vision for Guinean Youth
At the closing of the fifth edition of the Guinea Entrepreneurship and Employment Fair (SADEN) on June 5, 2026, the Minister Director of the Presidency, Mr. Djiba Diakité, delivered a powerful message: Guinea’s true wealth is its men and women—long before its minerals.
For three days, Conakry vibrated to the rhythm of SADEN—the Guinea Entrepreneurship and Employment Fair, in its 5th edition. Entrepreneurs from all corners of the country, committed institutions, technical and financial partners, and above all: a determined, creative youth ready to build. It was in this context that Mr. Djiba Diakité, Minister Director of the Presidency and President of the Strategic Monitoring Committee of the Simandou Project, took the floor to close this edition. His speech was not just a conclusion. It was a roadmap, a statement of intent, and a vibrant call to an entire generation.
A country does not change because of its resources. It changes because of its people.
Mr. Diakité immediately stated a truth that few leaders dare to express with such frankness. This statement encapsulates the essence of Simandou 2040—the major socio-economic development program led by H.E. Mamadi Doumbouya, President of the Republic.
Contrary to what many still imagine, Simandou 2040 is not simply a mining project. It is the foundation of a sustainable economic and social transformation for the entire Guinean nation. Its success will not be measured by the tons of ore extracted. It will be measured by the jobs created, the national businesses that emerge, and the opportunities opened to Guinean youth.
Simandou Academy: When the President invests in Human Capital
At the heart of this vision lies a central conviction of the Head of State: human capital is Guinea’s greatest wealth. And for this conviction to become a concrete reality, an institution commensurate with the ambition is needed. This is the profound meaning of Simandou Academy—the presidential initiative dedicated to training the next generation of Guinean builders.
“There are graduates—but what is important are the skills.”
— Mr. Djiba Diakité
In a world where competition is global and demands are constantly increasing, Guinea cannot afford to train just for the sake of training. It must train to transform. Thus, Simandou Academy aims to produce engineers, technicians, and entrepreneurs equipped for the jobs of tomorrow—capable of innovating, taking risks, and meeting the real demands of an economy in full transformation. The goal is not the diploma. The goal is the ability to act.
Guinean youth, the nation’s primary resource
The most powerful moment of the speech was undoubtedly when Mr. Diakité directly addressed the young people in the room—and through them, an entire generation. He acknowledged their expectations without reservation: a job, a chance to prove their worth, the opportunity to build their future here, in Guinea.
“Your education, your energy, your demands are Guinea’s primary resources—long before the minerals.”
— Mr. Djiba Diakité
This statement says it all. It reverses the traditional hierarchy of wealth. It places the young Guinean—with their ideas, energy, and creativity—at the top of what the nation possesses that is most precious. Investing in youth, according to President Doumbouya’s vision embodied in this speech, is not an act of charity. It is the foundational act of national development.
A call to action for entrepreneurs
Mr. Diakité also delivered a clear message to Guinean SMEs and micro-enterprises. The opportunities related to Simandou 2040 will be significant—but they will not fall from the sky. They belong to those who prepare themselves. Competitiveness, quality, training, and the ability to collaborate: these are the keys for Guinean businesses to meet the challenges of this historic transformation. SADEN itself embodies this spirit—an arena of anticipation where the alliances and ambitions of tomorrow’s Guinea are built year after year.
Mr. Djiba Diakité’s speech at the close of SADEN 2026 will remain one of the clearest and most inspiring statements of the presidential vision for Guinea. A vision that relies not only on what the land contains, but on what the men and women of this country are capable of achieving. Simandou 2040 is a bridge to prosperity. But it is the Guinean youth who will build that bridge.
“Believe in your abilities. Believe in your ideas. Above all, believe in your country. For the Guinea of tomorrow will be built through your projects, your creativity, and your courage to take risks and undertake.”
— Mr. Djiba Diakité
