At a high-level panel on industrialization and job creation in Africa held on Friday, April 17, 2026, in Washington, D.C., on the sidelines of the Spring Meetings of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, Côte d’Ivoire’s Minister of Mines, Petroleum and Energy, Mamadou Sangafowa-Coulibaly, emphasized energy, human capital, and South-South cooperation as key drivers of industrial growth.
Alongside Mariama Ciré Sylla, he stressed that beyond strategic planning, African states must accelerate the implementation of targeted industrial policies, improve the business environment, and build productive ecosystems capable of absorbing a rapidly growing workforce.
He outlined Côte d’Ivoire’s methodical approach to industrialization, centered on progressively creating an investment-friendly environment.
“Industrialization first requires a comprehensive ecosystem. The Ivorian strategy is based on a sequence of priorities: political and macroeconomic stabilization to restore confidence, massive investments in economic infrastructure (roads, ports, energy, etc.), followed by regulatory reforms aimed at enhancing predictability and the attractiveness of the business climate,” he explained.
He added: “The electricity sector illustrates this approach. We have tripled our installed power generation capacity in less than fifteen years, and we plan to triple it again over the next fifteen years.”
In the context of Africa’s urgent employment challenges, Sangafowa-Coulibaly highlighted the mining sector as a short- to medium-term solution.
“Beyond direct, often skilled jobs, mining generates a dense network of indirect employment through related services and local content requirements throughout the lifecycle of projects. This potential spans both artisanal and small-scale mining as well as industrial operations, positioning the extractive sector as a strategic bridge during the transition toward full industrialization.”
While infrastructure and energy remain essential foundations, he also underscored the importance of human capital. In a rapidly evolving technological landscape, the availability of a skilled workforce is becoming a decisive factor in attracting industrial investment.
Finally, he emphasized regional integration. For Côte d’Ivoire, the challenge is to position itself within a broader regional dynamic by leveraging its role as an economic hub in West Africa.
It is worth noting that this panel followed an earlier session focused on artisanal mining.