The African Development Club (CAD), affiliated with Attijariwafa Bank, in partnership with the Ivorian Bank Company (SIB), launched its 43rd multi-sector mission on December 4 and 5, 2025, in Abidjan, under the theme “Made in Côte d’Ivoire, for Africa.”
This event brought together more than 300 business leaders and institution representatives from 14 African countries, aiming to enhance cooperation among Southern nations.
The opening ceremony, presided over by Mr. Kobinan Kouassi Agoumani, Minister of State and representative of the Prime Minister, featured speeches from Mr. Mohamed Ghazi, General Director of SIB, and Ms. Monia Kadiri, Director of the African Development Club, along with the attendance of prominent economic figures from various African nations.
In his speech, Mr. Ghazi emphasized the strategic importance of the meeting’s topic, stressing the need to meet local demand and adhere to international standards to boost Ivorian product exports. He also praised Attijariwafa Bank’s pivotal role in fostering cooperation among its branches and supporting a shared African vision for value creation.
For his part, Mr. Agoumani highlighted the importance of the topic in accelerating national manufacturing, reaffirming the government’s commitment to creating an attractive investment environment, enhancing the competitiveness of local companies, and encouraging the structural transformation of the Ivorian economy. He commended the initiative by Attijariwafa Bank and SIB, aligning with the “Made in Côte d’Ivoire” vision aimed at African markets.
Ms. Kadiri highlighted the club’s primary goal, which is to facilitate communication and the exchange of economic information, building strong bridges between business ecosystems on the continent.
The event also featured the presentation of the new investment law, followed by a panel discussion that included notable economic figures such as Mr. Ahmed Bia, CEO of CHEMAL HOLDING, Mr. Daouda Koulibaly, General Director of Attijari West Africa, Ms. Fatouma Fofana, Executive Secretary of the National Council for the African Continental Free Trade Area, and Mr. Jean-Pierre Carpentier, Deputy General Director of the PORTEO Group.
The mission concluded with over 500 B2B meetings between participating companies, reflecting the growing interest in African economic opportunities, alongside a visit from participants to TRANSCAO, the largest cocoa processing complex in West Africa, covering over 21 hectares and featuring a grinding capacity of 50,000 tons.
