From February 3 to 6, 2025, a delegation from the Ministry of Mines, Petroleum and Energy took part in the 31st edition of the annual international forum “Investing in African Mining – African Mining Indaba”, held in Cape Town, South Africa, under the theme: “Building the Future of Mining in Africa, Today”.
Organized by the South African government, the event brought together more than 10,000 participants from across Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe and Oceania. Attendees included government representatives, executives of mining companies and financial institutions, investors, and stakeholders operating across the mining industry value chain.
The Ivorian delegation, led by Souleymane Soro, Deputy Chief of Staff to the Minister of Mines, Petroleum and Energy, comprised members of the ministerial cabinet and mining administration, representatives of the Société pour le Développement Minier de la Côte d’Ivoire (SODEMI), and members of the Professional Group of Miners of Côte d’Ivoire (GPMCI). The delegation benefited from the support of the Embassy of Côte d’Ivoire in South Africa. In addition to the opening ceremony, the event featured panels, roundtables, sectoral meetings, conferences and technical training sessions.
The special session dedicated to the promotion of Côte d’Ivoire, held on Wednesday, February 5, provided a key platform for the Ivorian delegation to highlight the country’s geological and mining potential under the theme: “Côte d’Ivoire, Land of Mining Opportunities”. Souleymane Soro emphasized the government’s commitment to providing investors with a favorable environment for profitable investments, notably through the digitalization of procedures, improved performance of the mining administration, and an integrated mining and energy policy. “Côte d’Ivoire is a land of opportunities,” he stated, reaffirming the government’s determination to support investors throughout the implementation of their projects.
In the same vein, Seydou Coulibaly, Director General of Mines and Geology, presented an overview of Côte d’Ivoire’s mining sector, highlighting key indicators and performance drivers of this fast-growing industry. Among these indicators, he cited the steady increase in the number of operating mines, the rise in exploration permit applications, and the sharp growth in gold production, which more than tripled over the past decade, from 18.6 tons in 2014 to over 58 tons in 2024. He also pointed to recent discoveries of world-class deposits and stressed the importance and diversity of the country’s untapped mineral resources. He outlined the policies and strategies put in place to sustain the sector’s momentum and ensure the long-term viability of Côte d’Ivoire’s mining industry, while urging hesitant investors and mining companies to place their trust in the country’s mining potential.
The same message was echoed by other stakeholders in the Ivorian mining sector. During a panel discussion, Jean-Claude Diplo, President of the Professional Group of Miners of Côte d’Ivoire (GPMCI), highlighted the numerous opportunities offered by the country’s geological and mining potential and affirmed that Côte d’Ivoire has the best mining legislation in West Africa. Raoul Kouamé Yao, Director of Mining Research and Exploration at SODEMI, shared his institution’s experience, underscoring the wealth of geological and mining data made available to companies operating in Côte d’Ivoire. He also referred to major projects such as the Integrated Mining Development Project of the West (PDMIO), inviting investors to fully seize the opportunities offered by the Ivorian mining sector.
For his part, Jorge Alberto Ganoza, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Roxgold Sango and Fortuna Silver, stated that Côte d’Ivoire’s ambition to become a regional mining hub, expressed about a decade ago, has now become a reality. Bertrand Kafando, Regional Sales and Marketing Director of Maxam, noted that the implementation of the local content policy could profoundly transform the mining sector in Côte d’Ivoire. Like his peers, he encouraged investors to prioritize Côte d’Ivoire, which currently offers some of the most attractive opportunities. Similarly, Daniel Boateng, Mining Projects Director at Sama Group, highlighted the opportunities available to subcontracting companies as a result of the continuous growth of the mining sector, which is generating strong demand for mining equipment and inputs. Finally, Martino de Ciccio, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Montage Gold, explained his company’s choice of Côte d’Ivoire by citing its attractive legal framework, quality infrastructure and the many opportunities offered by the mining sector. He also praised the speed of the mining permit approval process, which has enabled the rapid implementation of the Koné project (Worodougou), developed by his company and set to become the largest gold mine in the history of Côte d’Ivoire, with an annual production of 11 tons of gold.
The Ministry of Mines, Petroleum and Energy also used this promotional session to further showcase the International Exhibition of Extractive and Energy Resources (SIREXE), whose second edition is scheduled for 2026, with the aim of encouraging broader participation in this major international event.
The promotional meeting brought together more than 300 participants, including potential investors, mining companies, banking institutions, insurance companies and service providers.
Lastly, it is worth noting that the Ivorian delegation was received in audience by Gwede Mantashe, South African Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy. The delegation also held meetings with several mining companies as well as government, banking and insurance institutions. Côte d’Ivoire’s exhibition stand recorded strong interest and high attendance throughout the forum.