Ivory Coast and Japan concluded a grant agreement of 1.618 billion yen (approximately 6.5 billion FCFA) on Friday, February 20, 2026 in Abidjan , to strengthen road maintenance equipment in Greater Abidjan.

The signing ceremony for this economic cooperation agreement was co-chaired by Her Excellency Ms. Nialé Kaba , Minister of State, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, for the Ivorian government, and by His Excellency Gomakubo Junji , Ambassador of Japan to Côte d'Ivoire. The Minister of Infrastructure and Road Maintenance, Hien Sié , also participated in the meeting.

This funding, to be implemented by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) , aims to strengthen the maintenance capacity of the urban road network through the acquisition of modern equipment and the provision of specialized services. It is part of a broader bilateral cooperation effort to improve the quality of infrastructure in Côte d'Ivoire's economic capital and optimize traffic flow for the benefit of road users.

In her speech, Ms. Nialé Kaba expressed the Ivorian government's deep gratitude for this constant support, reaffirming Côte d'Ivoire's commitment to ensuring rigorous and transparent implementation of the project.

For his part, Ambassador Gomakubo Junji emphasized the strategic importance of this donation, recalling that it is part of the continuity of Japanese cooperation in infrastructure, particularly after major achievements such as the Japan-Ivory Coast “Shinzo Abe” Friendship Bridge.

This initiative comes as Ivory Coast continues to invest in the development and maintenance of its road network, which is essential for economic dynamism, urban mobility, and user safety.