The President of the High Authority for Good Governance (HABG), Épiphane Zoro Bi Ballo, took part on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, in Abidjan in a financial crime forum organized by the General Confederation of Enterprises of Côte d’Ivoire (CGECI), in partnership with the HABG, during the launch of the Support Program for Financial Integrity of SMEs (PAIF-PME PROPRE).

In his opening remarks, he delivered a strong message to private sector actors, stressing that corruption is a direct threat to business competitiveness, investment security and the credibility of the national economy.

He called for a paradigm shift, urging companies to view anti-corruption compliance and anti–money laundering and counter-terrorism financing (AML/CFT) mechanisms not as constraints, but as strategic tools for performance and credibility.

The event aimed to strengthen the capacity of Ivorian SMEs in financial integrity and compliance, and also included the distribution of beneficial ownership registry kits to 100 companies in the first cohort.

Zoro Bi Ballo reaffirmed his vision of a more ethical, resilient and competitive private sector, emphasizing that “integrity does not hinder performance, it secures it,” and that good governance is essential for sustainable and credible economic growth.

Through his intervention, he reinforced his role as a key figure in promoting integrity and transparency at the heart of Côte d’Ivoire’s economic development agenda.