Côte d’Ivoire and Belgium are seeking to deepen their cooperation in sustainable water management, forestry and environmental innovation, as Ivorian Minister of Water and Forests Jacques Assahoré Konan met with a high-level Belgian business delegation in Abidjan on Tuesday.
The delegation, led by Belgian Ambassador Carole Van Eyll, brought together representatives of leading Belgian companies specializing in sustainable water management, forestry, biodiversity conservation, digital technologies and environmental solutions.
During the meeting, Assahoré Konan welcomed the mission as a reflection of the strong and dynamic partnership between Côte d’Ivoire and Belgium, emphasizing the growing opportunities for collaboration in sectors critical to sustainable development.
Discussions focused on the Ivorian government's strategic priorities, including forest restoration, integrated water resource management, biodiversity protection, timber traceability, modern forest monitoring systems and the promotion of resilient agroforestry practices.
The minister reiterated Côte d’Ivoire's ambition to increase forest cover to 20% of the national territory by 2030, up from less than 10% today, following decades of significant deforestation. Achieving this objective, he said, will require strong technical and financial partnerships, innovative solutions and greater private-sector participation.
Belgian companies presented their expertise in several key areas, including sustainable irrigation, integrated water management, forest certification, timber traceability, advanced digital mapping, smart forest surveillance, early wildfire detection, carbon projects and ecosystem restoration.
Ambassador Van Eyll highlighted the strong alignment between Côte d’Ivoire's development priorities and global challenges related to climate change, water security and forest conservation. She reaffirmed Belgium's commitment to supporting the Ministry of Water and Forests in implementing its sustainable development agenda, in line with the objectives of Côte d’Ivoire's National Development Plan 2026–2030.
The meeting concluded with both sides agreeing to strengthen dialogue through a permanent consultation framework aimed at identifying high-impact projects and facilitating partnerships between Ivorian and Belgian stakeholders.
The discussions underscore growing international interest in Côte d’Ivoire's environmental and natural resource sectors as the country seeks to balance economic growth with climate resilience and sustainable resource management.