Cooperation Between Côte d’Ivoire and AFD: Two Agreements Signed to Support Entrepreneurship and Market Construction

The Ivorian government and the French Development Agency (AFD) signed two agreements on Friday, October 11, 2024, in Abidjan to support Côte d'Ivoire in developing public mechanisms for entrepreneurship and constructing markets in the communes of Bouaké and Yopougon.

Prime Minister Dr. Beugré Mambé, who presided over the signing ceremony, emphasized that the implementation of these two projects would significantly boost public investments in social sectors, thereby reducing poverty in Côte d'Ivoire.

The first agreement focuses on the development of the private sector, particularly the sectors where small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) operate, which are key drivers of economic growth and the creation of quality jobs for young people.

The second agreement aims to strengthen the monitoring of food distribution, making it more accessible to populations across the country.

Thani Mohamed Soilihi, Secretary of State for International Partnerships and Francophonie, noted that since 2018, the first phase of the "Choose Africa" project has already supported over 40,000 African businesses and hundreds of thousands of micro-entrepreneurs. “These encouraging results have led to the launch of this second phase,” he added.

He also stated that the market construction project in Bouaké and Yopougon will play a pivotal role in boosting the economy of these two cities. Once completed, the project is expected to accommodate 8,000 traders in Bouaké and 2,700 in Yopougon.

MC