The Ivorian diaspora contributes to the national economy with over 900 billion CFA francs (over 1.5 billion dollars) per year, according to government statistics. An amount higher than official development assistance.
Facing the diaspora on June 26 and 27, 2026 in Paris, the Minister of Planning and Development, Souleymane Diarrassouba, expressed the government’s wish to further direct this financial capacity towards productive investment, in line with the priorities of the 2026-2030 National Development Plan (NDP).
The government’s policy in favor of the Ivorian diaspora is based on three axes. The first concerns the establishment of financial instruments aimed at mobilizing diaspora savings, including specific bond loans and a dedicated investment fund. The second focuses on creating a more secure and incentivizing investment environment, through a single window and project security mechanisms. The third aims at valorizing Ivorian skills established abroad in order to support the development of strategic sectors such as industry, digital technology, fintech, research, and emerging technologies.
“The Ivorian diaspora represents a considerable human and financial capital, coupled with an entrepreneurial capacity that Côte d’Ivoire is keen to valorize. The government intends to build with them a partnership based on complementary expertise, investment, and skills transfer, in service of the country’s economic transformation,” declared Dr. Souleymane Diarrassouba, alongside the minister delegate in charge of African integration and Ivorians abroad, as well as the ambassador of Côte d’Ivoire in France.
During the discussions, Souleymane Diarrassouba emphasized that the government is implementing a growth policy based on industrialization, human capital development, and wealth creation on national territory. To support this ambition, an investment program of over 191.4 billion dollars, equivalent to 114,838.5 billion CFA francs, is planned. The private sector is expected to contribute 70.2%, or 134.36 billion dollars, equivalent to 80,614.7 billion CFA francs. The public share is estimated at 57.04 billion dollars, or 34,223.9 billion CFA francs.
This meeting concludes a series of international trips, from Washington to Brazzaville, passing through Kigali, Baku, Paris, and Brussels, carried out by the government before the consultative group scheduled for July 8 and 9, 2026 in Abidjan.
