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.

After several successful editions, Business AFRICA returns for a 5th edition that promises to be exceptional at the Beffroi de Montrouge in Paris on 1 and 2 March 2025. This great event for African entrepreneurship brings together Africans and Afro-descendants from all over the world in Paris every year.
Brief history of Business AFRICA
Since its creation in 2021, the AFRICA Business Show has continuously attracted an ever-wider audience. For this fifth edition, it has established itself as a platform for strategic exchanges between investors, entrepreneurs, opinion leaders and project leaders. In 2023, the event took on a continental dimension by expanding to Dakar, marking a key stage in its expansion. With nearly 300 exhibitors, 100 speakers and more than 4,500 participants since its inception, Business AFRICA is now considered the largest gathering of African entrepreneurs and professionals in Europe.

Impact programs
During these two days in Paris, experts from around the world will share concrete keys to entrepreneurship and success in Africa and in the diaspora. Many themes reflecting the current challenges of the continent and its diaspora will be addressed. They will range from African innovation to the role of inspiring African women, including financial intelligence, Africa-France relations and religious entrepreneurship (Islam & Business, Christian Business).

A parterre of influential personalities
The AFRICA 2025 Business Show will bring together leading figures from the world of business, culture and politics. Among the personalities expected are Gwenola Monteiro, Carlos Martens Bilongo and Mokobe, as well as Jonathan Yanghat, Priscilla Wolmer, Stanislas Zeze, Chef Hacene, Claudy Siar and many others.

A focus on the conflict in the DRC
The conflict between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo will also be highlighted. Faced with the critical situation in the east of the DRC, Business AFRICA 2025 is committed by allowing two associative structures to exhibit at the fair in order to raise awareness and mobilize the public for the benefit of disadvantaged populations. This presentation will provide an opportunity for participants to deepen their understanding of the root causes of decades of war.

Business AFRICA, an event respectful of religions
In March 2025, the month of Ramadan will begin, an important period for Muslims. Aware of the religious diversity of its audience, Business AFRICA has taken steps to be more inclusive. In order to ensure a respectful environment for religious practices, especially for Muslims, two prayer spaces will be created: one for women and one for men. No excuse for not coming together to build the future of African business!

There is an increasing emergence of a social and solidarity economic movement on the part of the Senegalese diaspora. It is a more humanistic, human-faced form of mutual aid. Also, on 16 November 2024, Stuttgart hosted the first ever “Link Sunu Gaal Trade Show”. This initiative, under the leadership of the International Business Council Invest (IBC INVEST) association, had as its theme “The return of productive investment from the German diaspora in Senegal for a Senegal in progress”. And, it was a success. This event, which counted more than a hundred people, brought together local authorities, international experts, entrepreneurs and especially members of the Senegalese diaspora ready to invest in Senegal, to build a solid bridge between Germany and Senegal with investment as the cornerstone following the meeting of the Managing Director of Apix SA, Bakary Séga Bathily.

Link Sunu Gala: Under the sign of investment and solidarity
With guests from brands such as Remseck mayor Dirk Schoenberg, and also leaders of the IBC INVEST association, such as international president Ibrahima Badji and its general secretary, Salif Diedhiou, this event was a great success. Camille Bounama Sylla, special advisor to the president of Sierra Leone, and Ibrahima Badji, sustainability consultant, really enriched the discussions by providing their expertise punctuated with specific examples. It was concrete. Indeed, the speaker defined the priority missions of the IBC INVEST association, which aim to strengthen the Senegalese economy and links with the diaspora. The first of these tasks is to supervise future investors. This action aims to facilitate the integration of young people into the local Senegalese economy. This will help to fight illegal immigration. In parallel, the association is committed to creating bridges between project promoters and investors, whether public or private, in Germany or Senegal. Finally, it promotes community projects through viable economic initiatives, using innovative approaches such as crowdfunding and skills transfer. This will strengthen international solidarity and cooperation.

Highlights and keynote speeches
In the various speeches that punctuated the interventions of each, it became clear that the key to the success of this initiative lies in collaboration and inspiration for the Senegalese diaspora. Amadou Cheikhou Diame, president of IBC Germany, led the way by calling for stronger collaboration between members of the diaspora and the association, drawing on the success models of other communities, such as the Chinese. Then, Camille Bounama Sylla spoke about his journey: a real resilience that captivated the people present. From being an undocumented immigrant to becoming a recognized international consultant, and up to his current social status: how high the ladder – social ladder – he had to climb. At the end of his speech, he urged the diaspora to unite around bold entrepreneurial initiatives. Finally, Dirk Schonberger concluded by saluting the exemplary leadership of the Senegalese diaspora in his community while promising its unwavering support for the next editions of the show.

IBC Invest and APIX Alliance: a winning bet
During the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, the president of the International Business Council Invest (IBC) and the Director General of the Senegal Investment and Major Works Promotion Agency (APIX) met, a decisive step. This strategic alliance, supported by a common objective of developing productive investment in the Senegalese diaspora, is reflected in a commitment to build on the findings of Link Sunu Gaal. This data will be used to ensure a rigorous follow-up of the identified projects and to fully exploit opportunities. This collaboration reflects a shared desire to maximize the economic benefits of diaspora initiatives for a lasting impact on the Senegalese economy.

Senegal, in the digital age
During the three conferences, one particularly attracted participants: the speech of Narcisse Nasser Badjim who spoke about the future of Senegal in the digital age. Having highlighted the role of technologies in optimizing investments and the importance of integrating the social and solidarity economy (SSE) in Senegalese territorial authorities, He gave the floor to Mambaye Thiam who spoke about the keys to success and the challenges to overcome in order to invest effectively in Senegal. IBC INVEST, for its part, has detailed its actions in the ESS, which highlight the strengthening of local authorities through partnerships with the diaspora. This, he says, requires training local actors in new entrepreneurial and digital trends. Above all, we need to find a way to facilitate the funding of community projects with high social impact.

Link Sunu Gaal, a model of social and solidarity economy
If there is one thing to be remembered from this forum, it is this crucial question: what is the role of the Senegalese diaspora in Germany in the development of the social and solidarity economy (SSE)? The responses were clear and engaging. Indeed, the initiatives presented were aimed at encouraging productive investment while combating illegal immigration through the promotion of sustainable community projects. The captivating conferences particularly highlighted the importance of integrating SSE in Senegalese territorial authorities. Through innovative solutions, this model promises to revitalize the local economy by pooling skills and resources, thus laying the foundations for inclusive and sustainable development.

Link Sunu Gaal Fair, a success
In addition to the discussions that were offered at this show where an exhibition space bringing together companies such as Allianz Assurance and BN2 Smart, it should be noted that this first Link Sunu Gaal Show was a real success, in the sense that it has helped to consolidate links which are being broken by distance. Several participants praised an organization that combines economic vision and solidarity commitment. All participants unanimously expressed the hope that the next meeting, scheduled to take place in Italy, in Offida on 14 December 2024, will attract more partners willing to invest in Senegal. With a committed diaspora and quality international allies, Senegal is undoubtedly on the path to emergence.