BOAD steps up financing support for Côte d’Ivoire’s private sector

The West African Development Bank (BOAD) presented its financing instruments to Ivorian businesses on Thursday as it seeks to increase its support for the private sector, which is expected to provide most of the investment required under Côte d’Ivoire’s 2026-2030 development plan.

The bank organised a breakfast debate in Abidjan with the Côte d’Ivoire Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI-CI) to present its financing mechanisms and discuss access to funding for local businesses.

BOAD said its interventions focus on six priority areas: energy and natural resources; infrastructure and digital development; agriculture and agro-industry; health and education; financial institutions; and real estate.

The bank has mobilised more than 2,600 billion CFA francs for Côte d’Ivoire’s economy since its creation, with about 43% directly allocated to the private sector, according to Franchy Nago, head of BOAD’s resident mission in Côte d’Ivoire.

Between 2021 and 2025, BOAD committed more than 1,100 billion CFA francs in financing to the country. Commitments reached nearly 329 billion CFA francs in 2024 and 350 billion in 2025, while almost 300 billion CFA francs had already been approved in the first half of 2026.

Private sector expected to drive PND investment

The increased focus on private companies comes as Côte d’Ivoire implements its National Development Plan for 2026-2030.

The plan calls for total investments of 114,838.5 billion CFA francs, with 70.2% expected to come from the private sector and 29.8% from the public sector. Private investment is projected at 80,614.7 billion CFA francs over the five-year period.

BOAD said its 2026-2030 strategic plan aims to rebalance its financing between the public and private sectors, with a larger share directed towards private businesses.

The CCI-CI, meanwhile, is seeking to help companies better structure their projects and financing applications so they can make use of the bank’s available mechanisms.

The initiative comes as Côte d’Ivoire seeks to translate the investment objectives of its new development plan into concrete projects and increase private-sector participation in the country’s economic transformation.