Côte d’Ivoire is preparing to place its economic opportunities and regional development ambitions at the centre of the Europe-Africa Forum, scheduled to take place in Marseille, France, on Dec. 11, 2026.
Ahead of the event, Côte d’Ivoire’s ambassador to France, Maurice Kouakou Bandaman, held an initial working meeting with Jean-Christophe Tortora, deputy chief executive in charge of media activities at CMA Media and responsible for organising the forum. The discussions focused on preparations for Côte d’Ivoire’s participation and the main priorities expected to shape its presence at the event.
Economic development, investment, cooperation between local authorities, local processing, tourism, culture, creative industries and media are expected to feature prominently in discussions, according to the information provided by the Ivorian side.
The forum is intended to serve as a platform for concrete business opportunities, partnerships and exchanges between Côte d’Ivoire, France and the wider European market. For Abidjan, the event offers an opportunity to present the country not only as an investment destination, but also as a hub for regional economic activity and value-added production.
Côte d’Ivoire is also expected to highlight the diversity of its regions, the expansion of its economy and the potential of its creative and cultural industries. The country will seek to promote a model of Africa-Europe cooperation focused increasingly on investment, local value creation and mutually beneficial partnerships.
The Ivorian participation comes after Morocco was the guest of honour at the previous edition of the forum. Côte d’Ivoire is now preparing to use the Marseille gathering to strengthen its economic and institutional ties with France and Europe while showcasing opportunities across multiple sectors.
The Dec. 11 meeting will therefore provide an important platform for Côte d’Ivoire to promote its investment potential and strengthen its position in discussions on the future of economic cooperation between Africa and Europe.