Industrialization and Job Creation in Africa: In Washington, Minister Mamadou Sangafowa-Coulibaly Emphasizes Energy and Human Capital

During a high-level panel on industrialization and job creation in Africa held on Friday, April 17, 2026, in Washington on the sidelines of the World Bank and IMF Spring Meetings, Côte d’Ivoire’s Minister of Mines, Petroleum and Energy, Mamadou Sangafowa-Coulibaly, highlighted energy, human capital, and South–South cooperation as key pillars for Africa’s industrial transformation.

Alongside Mariama Ciré Sylla, Guinea’s Minister of Economy and Finance, the Ivorian minister stressed that beyond strategies, African states must accelerate the implementation of targeted industrial policies, improve the business environment, and structure productive ecosystems capable of absorbing a rapidly growing workforce.

He presented Côte d’Ivoire’s structured approach to industrialization, based on the gradual construction of a favorable investment climate.

“Industrialization first requires a global ecosystem. The Ivorian strategy is built on a sequence of priorities: political and macroeconomic stabilization to restore confidence, massive investments in economic infrastructure (roads, ports, energy, etc.), and regulatory reforms aimed at strengthening predictability and business attractiveness,” 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 a context where Africa urgently faces employment challenges, Mamadou Sangafowa-Coulibaly encouraged exploring a sector with more immediate impact: mining. He noted that beyond direct, often skilled jobs, mining generates a dense network of indirect employment through related services and local content requirements throughout the life cycle of projects. This potential applies both to artisanal and small-scale mining as well as industrial operations, positioning the extractive sector as a strategic transitional lever in the industrialization process.

While infrastructure and energy remain essential prerequisites, the minister also emphasized human capital. In a rapidly evolving technological environment, a skilled workforce is becoming a decisive factor in attracting industrial investment.

Finally, he underlined the importance of regional integration. For Côte d’Ivoire, the challenge is also to strengthen its role within a regional dynamic by leveraging its position as a West African economic hub.

The panel followed an earlier session dedicated to artisanal mining activities.