BUSINESS
IVORY COAST – UNIDO, a major partner in the Ivorian economyIVORY COAST –
On Thursday, 3 April, at the Presidential Palace, the Ivorian Vice-President, Tiémoko Meyliet Koné, received the Director-General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), Gerd Müller. The two men, along with the Minister of Trade and Industry, Souleymane Diarrassouba, spoke about the strategy to relaunch more than four decades of cooperation between Côte d’Ivoire and the UN agency.
A strengthened partnership focused on innovation and inclusion
The Vice-President, Mr. Koné Meyliet, discussed with Mr. Müller the challenges and prospects of a renewed partnership that will focus on structural transformation of the Ivorian economy. “Côte d’Ivoire is a regional economic power,” said Gerd Müller. Thus, the country’s remarkable performance and sustained growth in recent years is, according to the UNIDO Director-General, a dynamic that deserves to be supported by more ambitious cooperation. It is in this perspective that he announced the upcoming signing of a new partnership program in strategic sectors: agro-industry, renewable energy and innovative technologies. Indeed, this partnership aims on the one hand to strengthen the country’s competitiveness and on the other hand to respond to a social imperative, that is to say the inclusion of young people in the economic fabric. According to the Director-General of UNIDO: “Sustainable industrial development can create a world without hunger, with jobs for young people and clean energy for all,” said Mr Müller, affirming UNIDO’s commitment to providing concrete solutions to global challenges.
Ivorian youth driving economic transformation
On Friday, 4 April, at the Made in Côte d’Ivoire (FOMCI 2025) Fair, held at the Abidjan Exhibition Centre, the Director-General of UNIDO paid tribute to the Ivorian youth. During his visits to the various stands, Mr. Müller praised young entrepreneurs for their “dynamism, creativity and modernity,” calling them “real actors in the country’s economic transformation.” He was struck by a fact that he did not fail to point out: “the majority of the stands are run by young companies. This is a sign of a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem”. For him, this momentum must be supported by public policies in order to structure, support and sustain youth initiatives.
The FOMCI 2025: heading for the future
The FOMCI 2025 was held from 2 to 6 April, under the theme “Competitiveness and innovation in the world”, at the initiative of the French Ministry of Commerce and Industry, led by Souleymane Diarrassouba. This edition highlighted the country’s new economic directions. And among these orientations, innovation and entrepreneurship appear as essential levers. Mr. Gerd Müller said forcefully: “UNIDO is the voice of the poorest in the international community. We are fighting for real solidarity, for massive investments in sustainable, inclusive and equitable development.” In a world facing climate, food and social challenges, Côte d’Ivoire and UNIDO share a common ambition: to make the industrial sector an instrument of profound transformation.
The presidency of Togo has announced that the project to exploit the manganese mine of Nayega, located in the Savanes region in the north of the country, is entering its operational phase. According to a statement issued on June 10, 2025, production is scheduled to start at the end of June 2025, with an initial volume of 4,000 tons per month, which should gradually double to reach 8,000 tons per month.
Keras Resources is the technical partner retained by the Togolese government to carry out this project. A statement from Keras, relayed by the presidency, details that the company signed a cooperation agreement in 2023 with the Togolese state, owner of the mine through the Togolese Manganese Company (STM). Under the terms of this agreement, Keras will receive a remuneration of 1.5% of the mine’s gross revenue for three years for its advisory services, as well as 6% for brokering services.
The reserves of the Nayega mine are estimated at 8.5 million tonnes, which would allow exploitation over a period of 11 years. The authorities of Lomé welcome the expected contribution of the mine to the national budget, a benefit that should be strengthened by the rigorous management of the generated revenues, as indicated by our colleagues from Agence Afrique.
With a growing global demand for manganese, particularly in steel alloys and renewable energy technologies, Togo is seeking to assert itself as an essential supplier of this strategic ore. This positioning could play a catalytic role for the national economy, always according to information from the Africa Agency.
Source: senego / Photo credit: Republicoftogo.com
The Gabonese government decided on Friday to ban the import of broilers in order to promote national poultry production and ensure food security, according to the final communiqué of the council of ministers chaired by the head of state, Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema.
The ban will be effective from 1 January 2027, thus leaving a period of 18 months (1 year and 6 months) for actors in the sector to structure themselves, invest and prepare to meet national demand.
“This measure aims to restore domestic poultry production, boost agricultural investment, reduce food dependency and strengthen the trade balance,” the government hopes. Gabon also hopes to foster “the emergence of a network of rural jobs, the rise in quality of products consumed locally and the creation of an economic ecosystem around this sector”.
The government has also planned a detailed operational plan to be presented within 45 days by the ministers responsible for economy and trade.
Libreville dreams of reducing its dependence on poultry imports and strengthening the country’s food security. In addition, the promotion of local poultry farming should have a positive impact on rural areas, generating jobs and contributing to the development of a vibrant poultry ecosystem.
Imported frozen chicken is the most consumed food in Gabon because of its low price and packaging ready to be thrown into a pot.
“The star of the freezer” is how Gabonese people refer to frozen chicken because it is often the only food, if not the default food, found in the freezers of Gabonese families.
Frozen chicken and meat are generally imported from Latin America and Europe. Their massive presence on the market has destroyed local production.
The Council of Ministers also announced a ban on exporting crude manganese from 1 January 2029. The objective is to promote local industrial development, create jobs and maximize the value of this resource, of which Gabon is the world’s second largest producer.
Sources: gabonactu.com
Mauritania is in the spotlight. On Thursday, May 29, 2025, Sidi Ould Tah was elected president of the African Development Bank (AfDB), at the annual meeting of the institution held in Abidjan. He succeeds Akinwumi Adesina of Nigeria, in office since 2015.
His election came after a hard-fought duel against Samuel Munzele Maimbo of Zambia, who finished in second place. The election, which was marked by major geopolitical and economic issues, took place against a background of high expectations regarding governance and development financing on the continent.
The Senegalese Amadou Hott, long perceived as one of the favorites, finishes in third place, followed by the South African Bajabulile Swazi Tshabalala. Despite significant diplomatic support, notably for Hott, the momentum in favour of Sidi Ould Tah has prevailed in the last few rounds.
Former minister and general manager of the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA), Sidi Ould Tah is recognized for his experience and strategic vision. He will officially take office on 1 September 2025.
Photo credit: Forbes Africa
