Côte d'Ivoire signs agreement with OPEC Fund

Côte d'Ivoire and the OPEC Fund for International Development signed a framework cooperation agreement on 16 October 2026, covering a 500 million dollar envelope for the period 2026-2029, along with up to 3 million dollars in donations. The agreement was signed during the Annual Meetings of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund in Bangkok.

Agreement targets national development priorities

The framework agreement aims to support the financing of priority projects under the National Development Plan (PND) 2026-2030. This plan outlines Côte d'Ivoire's strategic goals for economic and social development over the next five years.

Officials sign the agreement

The agreement was signed by Dr. Souleymane Diarrassouba, Minister of Planning and Development, and Mr. Abdulhamid Alkhalifa, President of the OPEC Fund for International Development. Both parties emphasized the importance of aligning international support with national priorities.

Resources allocated to key sectors

The resources allocated will be directed towards strategic sectors such as transport infrastructure, energy, access to clean water, education, the agricultural sector, and the ecological transition, through national and sub-regional initiatives. These areas are considered critical for long-term development and stability.

Donations to support project studies

The donations, up to a maximum of 3 million dollars, will specifically fund the studies of priority PND projects. This funding is intended to ensure that projects are well-planned and feasible before implementation begins.

Ivorian government seeks development funding

This agreement is part of the Ivorian government's efforts to gather the resources needed for its development program. In July 2026, authorities announced having received 47,820 billion CFA francs (81.8 billion dollars) in funding intentions from partners and investors.

Total investment targets set

The 2026-2030 plan is expected to involve total investments of 114,838.5 billion CFA francs, according to the Ministry of Planning and Development. The private sector is expected to account for 70.2 percent of these investments, with the public sector covering the remaining 29.8 percent.

Economic growth goals outlined

Adopted in February 2026, the 2026-2030 PND aims for an average annual growth of 7.2 percent and aspires to move the country into the upper-middle-income economy category by 2030. The government also plans to raise the GDP per capita from 3,148 dollars to 4,500 dollars and reduce the poverty rate below 20 percent.

Balancing growth with fiscal management

The mobilization of these resources occurs as Côte d'Ivoire must reconcile its development ambitions with the management of its budgetary balances. According to IMF projections, the budget deficit is expected to reach 3.8 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2026, before returning to the community ceiling of 3 percent in 2028. Public debt is projected at 57.2 percent of GDP in 2026.