Abidjan, June 11, 2026 – As part of the acceleration of local processing of raw materials, the creation of added value and jobs, 14 special economic zones will be developed across the districts of the country, and industrial zones intended to develop agricultural potential will be set up in the 31 regions, announced the Minister of Commerce, Industry and Crafts, Ibrahim Kalil Konaté.
On Thursday June 11, 2026, he hosted a conference on the theme: “Contribution of industrialization to the dynamics of Greater Côte d’Ivoire” at the headquarters of the Economic, Social, Environmental and Cultural Council (CESEC) in Abidjan-Plateau.
“We must achieve the second and third transformation in order to create more wealth and jobs for our populations,” Ibrahim Kalil Konaté told the members of this consultative institution.
In his presentation, the minister underlined the desire of the Head of State, Alassane Ouattara, to move Côte d’Ivoire from an essentially agricultural economy to a more industrialized economy: “The President of the Republic wants us to move from an agricultural economy to an industrialized economy.”
Recalling the country’s performance in the cocoa, coffee, cashew, rubber, cotton and palm oil sectors, he said that “Côte d’Ivoire already processes 46% of its cocoa production and aims to reach 70% by 2030”.
Addressing the economic outlook, the minister noted that the share of industry in the formation of gross domestic product (GDP) is currently estimated at 22.7%. According to him, this contribution could reach between 30 and 32% in the next five years thanks to ongoing reforms aimed at improving the attractiveness of the country and reducing administrative delays for investors. “We have an obligation to shorten the investor’s journey so that no company gives up setting up in Côte d’Ivoire because of administrative burdens.”
The president of Cesec, Eugène Aka Aouélé, and all the economic and social advisors praised the quality of the exchanges, as well as the vision presented to make industrialization a major lever for the economic transformation of Côte d’Ivoire.
“Industrialization constitutes an essential condition for the emergence of Côte d’Ivoire. It is a powerful engine for wealth creation, sustainable jobs and the development of our local resources,” underlined Eugène Aka Aouélé.
Find out more: https://www.gouv.ci/actualite/industrialisation-ibrahim-kalil-konate-annonce-le-developpement-de-14-zones-economiques-speciales-et-de-zones-industrielles-3992
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