Abidjan, June 8, 2026 – The Minister of Trade and Industry, Kalil Konaté, presided over the opening of the first GUCE CONNECT forum in Abidjan on Monday. This forum is dedicated to the digitalization of foreign trade in Côte d’Ivoire.
Organized by the Single Window for Foreign Trade of Côte d’Ivoire (GUCE CI) around the theme “Digitalization of Multimodal Supply Chains for More Efficient Foreign Trade,” this event brought together key public and private stakeholders in foreign trade, logistics, and transportation.
In his opening address, Minister Kalil Konaté, who also served as the ceremony’s patron, emphasized that digital transformation is now a strategic driver of competitiveness for modern economies. He noted that the digitalization of supply chains streamlines trade, reduces processing times and operational costs, improves the traceability of goods, and enhances the transparency of procedures.
Framing this dynamic within the vision of the President of the Republic, His Excellency Alassane Ouattara, the Minister indicated that the modernization of foreign trade will contribute to achieving the objectives of the 2026-2030 National Development Plan, particularly the acceleration of the structural transformation of the economy, the strengthening of industrialization, and the consolidation of Côte d’Ivoire’s position as a leading logistics and trade hub in West Africa.
“The digitalization of the multimodal supply chain is much more than a technical project. It constitutes a national strategic priority,” he affirmed.
The Minister also called for increased mobilization of all stakeholders to address the challenges related to human resource development, cybersecurity, the harmonization of regulatory frameworks, and the inclusion of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the digital transformation.
Earlier, the Director General of GUCE CI welcomed the participants and presented the objectives of this first edition of GUCE CONNECT. He reiterated that the forum aims to establish a permanent framework for dialogue and consultation among foreign trade stakeholders in order to accelerate the modernization of procedures, strengthen the integration of systems, and improve the overall performance of the national supply chain.
For his part, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of GUCE CI highlighted the economic sovereignty challenges linked to data control and the interconnection of digital platforms. He advocated for accelerating the implementation of the Port Community System (PCS), presented as a key tool for competitiveness and streamlining trade.
Throughout the day, participants will take part in several conferences, panels, and workshops focusing on topics such as supply chain resilience, the integration of foreign trade stakeholders, the use of data and artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity challenges.
Through GUCE CONNECT, the Ivorian government reaffirms its commitment to modernizing foreign trade and making digitalization a driver of growth, competitiveness, and regional integration.
