At the government's "All You Need to Know" event on June 23, 2026, the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (ARCOP) presented a review of major reforms aimed at facilitating access for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to government contracts. This is a strategic undertaking, given that public procurement accounts for approximately 25% of Côte d'Ivoire's GDP.

Dr. Ouattara Oumar, Secretary General of ARCOP, detailed the concrete mechanisms put in place to transform this sector into a real lever for inclusive growth and job creation.

Ambitious quotas and concrete results

The key measure of this strategy is based on a strict legal framework: the obligation to reserve at least 30% of public procurement plans for SMEs .

On the ground, the ambitions are bearing fruit. According to ARCOP, approximately 35% of national public contracts are now actually awarded to SMEs , thus exceeding the initial target.

Financial relief and competitive advantages

To remove the barriers that previously excluded small businesses, the government has activated several levers:

1. Reduction of submission costs: The rate of bid guarantees has been halved, from a range of 1–3% to 1–1.5% , which provides a boost to the cash flow of candidates.
2. Subcontracting bonus: A 15% preference margin is granted to large companies that commit to subcontracting between 30% and 40% of their market to local SMEs.
3. Simplified thresholds: For markets under 100 million FCFA , streamlined procedures allow SMEs to compete on an equal footing.
4. Technical support: Practical guides have been published with the support of technical partners to help entrepreneurs put together strong application files.

SIGOMAP: The digital revolution in public procurement

Modernization also involves digitization. Thanks to the operational deployment of the SIGOMAP platform, bids are now submitted electronically.

The benefits of SIGOMAP: A drastic reduction in participation costs for companies, accelerated processing of files, centralization of data and increased security against the risks of fraud.

By combining financial simplification, legal incentives and digital transition, the Ivorian State is consolidating an ecosystem favorable to national entrepreneurship, reaffirming the crucial role of SMEs in the socio-economic development of the country.