Abidjan, July 13, 2026 – The Europe Today: Morocco has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening economic cooperation with Côte d’Ivoire, with more than 100 Moroccan companies participating in the Consultative Group meeting held in Abidjan on July 8–9 to mobilize financing for Côte d’Ivoire’s 2026–2030 National Development Plan (NDP), a strategic program comprising nearly 900 projects worth an estimated €175 billion.
Led by the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises (CGEM), the delegation included over 260 business executives representing key sectors such as finance, energy, infrastructure, healthcare, agriculture, mining, engineering, digital technologies, education, and sports. The delegation aimed to position Moroccan companies to participate in the implementation of the ambitious development agenda, with around 70 percent of the planned investments expected to come from the private sector.
Morocco’s Ambassador to Côte d’Ivoire, Othman El Ferdaous, described West Africa as Morocco’s next major engine of economic growth following the 2030 FIFA World Cup, emphasizing that Côte d’Ivoire offers an ideal platform for expanding pan-African value chains. He highlighted the country’s sustained economic growth, macroeconomic stability, and improving investment climate, noting that Côte d’Ivoire recently became the only sub-Saharan African country classified as having a “low” risk of debt distress under the latest IMF-World Bank assessment.
El Ferdaous said Morocco’s long-term strategy, inspired by the vision of King Mohammed VI, is centered on building stronger African partnerships through joint industrialization, investment, and shared ownership of production assets. He stressed that Morocco and Côte d’Ivoire should deepen cooperation by establishing joint ventures capable of adding value to African raw materials before accessing international markets under existing free trade agreements.
CGEM President Mehdi Tazi said Moroccan businesses are preparing for long-term expansion across West Africa, noting that Côte d’Ivoire remains one of the leading destinations for Moroccan investment on the continent, attracting approximately MAD 1.24 billion (US$124 million) in direct investment in 2024. On the sidelines of the forum, Moroccan business leaders also held discussions with representatives of the African Development Bank (AfDB), the International Finance Corporation (IFC), and Ivorian business organizations to strengthen investment partnerships aligned with the country’s new development priorities.
Calling for greater regional industrial integration, Ambassador El Ferdaous urged African countries to move beyond exporting raw materials and instead develop integrated manufacturing value chains capable of producing competitive goods for both African and international markets. He encouraged Moroccan companies to establish a lasting presence in Côte d’Ivoire, emphasizing that long-term partnerships and co-industrialization would create sustainable jobs, strengthen regional competitiveness, and support Africa’s economic transformation.
