Promoting growth and jobs in Côte d'Ivoire

Context

African countries offer attractive prospects for companies and investors: a young population, a growing number of workers and specialists, and promising sales markets.

Nevertheless, German businesses are still reluctant to invest in African countries. Companies and investors are therefore foregoing the opportunity to position themselves in the markets of the future. At the same time, African partner countries are missing out on important stimuli for growth and employment.

The German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) is therefore supporting African, European and German companies and investors in eight African countries, including Côte d'Ivoire. With the Special Initiative Decent Work for a Just Transition, BMZ is thus promoting investment in employment.

Objective

The job creation growth of African and European companies in Côte d'Ivoire has increased.

Approach

The programme is improving conditions for investment, promoting the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises and supporting the entrepreneurial ecosystem. It is divided into four areas of action:

• The programme supports sustainable investments by African and European companies in Côte d'Ivoire.
• It supports Ivorian SMEs in removing barriers to investment, tapping into new markets and cooperating with European companies.
• It promotes selected business locations (Bonoua and PK24 industrial zones) and sectors (information and communication technology, renewable energies and energy efficiency).
• It creates prospects for young people in Côte d'Ivoire through vocational training programmes for industrial mechanics and digital technology (NTIC). The European Union is contributing financially in this area of action.

The special initiative utilises established skills development instruments and funding models that have been specially developed for cooperation with the private sector.

Last update: December 2023