Côte d’Ivoire Plans 14 Special Economic Zones to Boost Industrialization and Job Creation

As part of efforts to accelerate the local processing of raw materials, create added value, and generate jobs, 14 Special Economic Zones (SEZs) will be developed across the country’s districts, while industrial zones aimed at harnessing agricultural potential will be established in all 31 regions, Minister of Trade, Industry and Handicrafts Ibrahim Kalil Konaté announced.

The minister made the announcement on Thursday, June 11, 2026, during a conference held at the headquarters of the Economic, Social, Environmental and Cultural Council (CESEC) in Abidjan-Plateau. The conference was held under the theme: “The Contribution of Industrialization to the Dynamics of a Greater Côte d’Ivoire.”

“We must achieve second- and third-stage processing in order to create more wealth and jobs for our populations,” Ibrahim Kalil Konaté told members of the consultative institution.

During his presentation, the minister highlighted President Alassane Ouattara’s determination to transform Côte d’Ivoire from a predominantly agricultural economy into a more industrialized one.

“The President of the Republic wants us to move from an agricultural economy to an industrialized economy,” he said.

Recalling the country’s strong performance in the cocoa, coffee, cashew, rubber, cotton, and palm oil sectors, he noted that “Côte d’Ivoire already processes 46% of its cocoa production and aims to reach 70% by 2030.”

Discussing the country’s economic outlook, the minister stated that industry currently accounts for 22.7% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). According to him, this contribution could rise to between 30% and 32% over the next five years thanks to ongoing reforms designed to improve the country’s attractiveness to investors and reduce administrative procedures.

“We have an obligation to shorten the investor journey so that no company abandons plans to establish operations in Côte d’Ivoire because of administrative bottlenecks,” he said.

The President of CESEC, Eugène Aka Aouélé, along with the institution’s economic and social advisors, praised the quality of the discussions and the vision presented for making industrialization a major driver of Côte d’Ivoire’s economic transformation.

“Industrialization is an essential condition for Côte d’Ivoire’s emergence. It is a powerful engine for wealth creation, sustainable employment, and the enhancement of our local resources,” Eugène Aka Aouélé emphasized.