Senior African Development Bank officials met with a senior U.S. delegation at African Development Bank headquarters on November 17 to discuss ways to deepen cooperation and increase support for Ivory Coast’s economic transformation and investment priorities.
The meeting was led by Joseph Marcial Ribeiro, Deputy Director for West Africa on the World Bank side, and Jessica Davis Ba, U.S. Ambassador to Côte d’Ivoire, and Alex Severens, World Bank Group Acting Director for the United States, with discussions focused on opportunities to expand cooperation across key sectors.
Mr. Ribeiro provided an updated overview of the Group’s portfolio in Ivory Coast, noting that as of the end of October, the Bank had financed 46 businesses totaling $4.2 billion. These investments will support infrastructure, financial sector, energy, agricultural transformation, industrialization and private sector development.
Marceline Dongun Ta, World Bank Group Chief Economist for West Africa, gave a detailed economic briefing highlighting the country’s strong macroeconomic performance, with growth estimated at 6% in 2024 and expected to reach 6.5% in 2025-2026. He also outlined the strategic focus of Côte d’Ivoire’s Country Strategy Paper (CSP 2023-2028), centered on diversification, sustainability and structural transformation, noting that a mid-term review is scheduled for 2026.
The meeting continued with a presentation by Blanche Kinifo, Country Program Officer, on the World Bank Group’s country portfolio and implications for its 2026 operating program. He highlighted a particularly dynamic portfolio, dominated by the transport, finance, energy and agriculture sectors, which account for more than 80% of the institution’s lending in Ivory Coast. Forecasts for 2026 predict new opportunities in key areas such as industrialization, governance, and water and sanitation.
The US delegation presented the country’s trade strategy for Côte d’Ivoire, developed by a specific working group (US Embassy Prosperity Working Group). Discussions then identified several areas of convergence between U.S. priorities and World Bank Group interventions, paving the way for a joint initiative starting in 2026 that would particularly favor the private sector.
Discussions also focused on procurement opportunities and the African Development Bank Group’s project pipeline in Côte d’Ivoire, as well as private sector operations, including financing mechanisms and prospects for U.S. companies.
The working meeting was both technical and strategic, confirming a shared desire to deepen dialogue and strengthen cooperation on high-impact projects. Both parties reaffirmed their commitment to creating an investment-friendly environment and supporting companies interested in opportunities in Ivory Coast.
