The Economic, Social, Environmental and Cultural Council (CESEC), under the chairmanship of Dr. Eugène Aka Aouélé, was buzzing with the rhythm of industrial development this Thursday, June 11, 2026. The Minister of Trade, Industry and Handicrafts, Ibrahim Kalil Konaté, guest of honor at the institution's first ordinary session, presented President Alassane Ouattara's strategic vision for the country's economic emergence.

Under the theme "Contribution of industrialization to the dynamics of Greater Ivory Coast" , the minister reaffirmed a strong political choice: to definitively break with the export of raw materials in order to impose local processing and the creation of added value.

📈 A rapidly growing industrial portfolio (2012-2024)

Mr. Konaté presented a statistical overview of the performance achieved thanks to the continuous improvement of the business climate:

1. Economic growth: A sustained average increase of approximately 6% over the period.
2. Weight of industry: The contribution of the industrial sector to GDP increased from 17.7% in 2012 to 22.7% in 2024 , a jump of 5 points.
3. Cocoa sector: The local processing rate has now reached 40% to 46% (compared to barely 20% previously). The focus is now on secondary and tertiary processing.
4. Cashew sector: A similar move upmarket confirms the momentum of competitiveness in agricultural value chains.

🛠 Bold reforms and giant infrastructure projects

To support this ambition, the Ivorian state has deployed colossal resources since 2012:

Modernization and the business climate

1. Overhaul of the Investment Code and digitalization of administrative formalities.
2. Creation of one-stop shops to accelerate business creation and secure investments.

Energy and land-use planning

1. Energy boom: Electricity production capacity has been propelled from 1,391 MW in 2011 to over 3,000 MW in 2026 .
2. Infrastructure: Extension of the industrial zones of Abidjan (Yopougon, Vridi, Koumassi) and deployment of the giant Akoupé-Zeudji PK24 site on more than 1,000 hectares.
3. Territorial network: Creation of special economic zones in the 14 districts of the country and development of regional hubs (Bouaké, Korhogo, San Pedro, Yamoussoukro, etc.) to correct regional disparities.

Macroeconomic health: The minister sought to reassure the public regarding the debt. Estimated at 59.3% of GDP, its trajectory is expected to decline to 54% by 2030 , then fall below 50% in the medium term. At the same time, the government is working to broaden the tax base and formalize the economy.

🚀 Heading towards 2030: The new challenges

Minister Konaté outlined the guidelines for the coming years: boost competitiveness, strengthen technical skills, facilitate access to financing and encourage innovation.

The ultimate goal is clear: to increase the industry's contribution to nearly 30% of GDP by 2030 , while generating hundreds of thousands of jobs for young people.

A fully committed CESEC

The president of the CESEC, Dr. Eugène Aka Aouélé, praised the presentation as "brilliant and enriching," noting that it would inform the institution's future recommendations. He reiterated the CESEC's full commitment to supporting this dynamic of national transformation.

Note: This meeting is part of a marathon of hearings for the consultative assembly, which had received the Minister of Planning and Development, Souleymane Diarrassouba, the day before, who came to present the National Development Plan (PND) 2026-2030.