To keep up with the global technological shift and stay in line with the changes brought by artificial intelligence (AI), Ivory Coast is preparing to take a decisive step. On Monday, June 8 in Abidjan, in front of digital ecosystem stakeholders, the press, and representatives of technical ministries, the Minister of Digital Transition and Technological Innovation, Djibril Ouattara, announced the imminent preparation of two structuring partnership agreements aimed at permanently anchoring the country in this innovation dynamic.
These agreements, which will be officially signed at the VivaTech trade show in Paris from June 17 to 20, involve two major international players. The first partnership will be concluded with Mistral AI, one of the world leaders in AI models, in order to lay the foundations for a collaboration tailored to the specific needs of the country. The second will be sealed with Event City, presented as the first school for training engineers and masters in data science and AI. The stated goal is to make Ivory Coast a key player in artificial intelligence on the African continent.
A strategy to anchor in the AI economy
Minister Djibril Ouattara outlined the strategic scope of this initiative: “This is about providing support, defining with Ivorian stakeholders what we want from AI. It will also involve preparing our country for the adoption of AI in all areas, by strengthening its training capacities, by offering opportunities for high school graduates and students to further their education, and by developing a number of training materials for the education of public and private sector employees.”
This ambitious roadmap aims to irrigate the entire Ivorian socio-economic fabric, combining skills development, adaptation of training programs, and dissemination of AI usage in both the public and private sectors.
VivaTech, showcase of the Ivorian entrepreneurial ecosystem
This technological offensive is also accompanied by concrete support for local entrepreneurs. The Ivorian government announced the support of 20 start-ups and 10 SMEs at VivaTech Paris 2026. “We are going there with the conviction that Ivory Coast now has an entrepreneurial ecosystem that deserves to be seen, heard, supported, and connected to major global value chains,” said Mamadou Touré, Minister of Youth Promotion, Professional Integration, and Civic Service.
For the selected companies, this trip represents a unique opportunity to meet investors, technology partners, clients, and international incubators, in a context where the competition to attract capital, talent, and strategic alliances is intensifying globally.
