Côte d’Ivoire and AIIB seek deeper economic cooperation to support development projects

Côte d’Ivoire and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) are seeking to deepen economic cooperation, with discussions focused on financing and supporting development projects under the country’s 2026-2030 National Development Plan.

Ivorian Prime Minister Robert Beugré Mambé met AIIB President Zou Jiayi in Abidjan on Sept. 7, with both sides discussing ways to expand the bank’s involvement in Côte d’Ivoire’s development priorities.

The discussions focused in particular on infrastructure, industrial zones and regional connectivity, areas that align with the AIIB’s mandate to finance sustainable infrastructure and strengthen economic connectivity.

Zou Jiayi expressed the bank’s interest in identifying additional infrastructure projects in Côte d’Ivoire and strengthening cooperation between Asia and Africa, according to the Ivorian Prime Minister’s Office.

The talks come as Côte d’Ivoire seeks to mobilize substantial private and public investment for its 2026-2030 development programme. The government has identified infrastructure and industrial development as key priorities as it seeks to accelerate economic transformation and strengthen the country’s position as a regional business hub.

The AIIB, headquartered in Beijing, is a multilateral development bank focused on infrastructure investment. It currently has 111 approved members and a capital base of $100 billion, according to the institution. Its financing priorities include transport, energy, water, urban development, digital infrastructure and regional connectivity.

Côte d’Ivoire is already part of the AIIB’s project pipeline. The bank lists a proposed operation titled “Private Investment and Productive Jobs – First Development Policy Financing” for the country, indicating a potential role in supporting private investment and job creation.

The latest discussions therefore come as Abidjan seeks to broaden its network of development-finance partners and attract additional capital for projects linked to its national development strategy.

No new financing amount was announced during the Sept. 7 meeting. The talks instead point to a strengthening partnership and the identification of projects that could potentially receive support from the Asian infrastructure lender.