At the opening of the Diaspora Forum on May 7, 2026, in Abidjan, the Ivorian government called on the diaspora to invest differently and contribute sustainably to the transformation of the country’s economy.

The appeal was made by Koffi N’Guessan, Minister of National Education, Literacy and Technical Education, representing Foreign Affairs Minister Nialé Kaba.

“Dear compatriots of the diaspora, I would like to send you a clear message: the nation is counting on you. It is counting on your expertise, your commitment, and your ability to invest differently and contribute sustainably to the transformation of our economy,” Koffi N’Guessan said.

He called for more strategic, structured and organized relations between Côte d’Ivoire and its diaspora in order to achieve investments with significant and visible impact. “The diaspora is not only a source of income. It is also a source of ideas, innovation and a bridge to the rest of the world,” he added.

For Adama Dosso, Deputy Minister attached to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the Diaspora Forum represents a shift in paradigm. “We are moving from a contributive diaspora to an investing diaspora, from a supportive diaspora to a strategically engaged diaspora,” he stated, referring to the Milan Roadshow and the Paris Forum as the first steps of this ambition.

According to Adama Dosso, Ivorians living abroad are increasingly active in key sectors of the economy. They directly support households, finance education and healthcare, and contribute to the creation of income-generating activities.

Financial transfers from Ivorians abroad rose from 99.5 billion CFA francs in 2008 to a record 640 billion CFA francs in 2023, becoming a major source of financing for the national economy.

More than 1.15 million Ivorians currently live outside the country, spread across more than 140 countries worldwide.