Côte d’Ivoire has announced plans to create a 450 billion CFA franc (approximately $800 million USD) fund aimed at supporting startups and advancing technological innovation across the country.
Speaking at the opening of the inaugural Ivoire Tech Forum 2025, Minister of Digital Transition and Digitalization, Ibrahim Kalil Konaté, said the fund will back national strategies and laws designed to strengthen innovation, develop the startup ecosystem, and drive the country’s digital independence.
The fund will be financed through a mix of public and private investment, with the government contributing 100 billion CFA francs and the remaining 350 billion CFA francs expected from private and institutional partners.
According to the minister, some private sector players have already committed to supporting the initiative, which will be managed by a company with minority public financial participation.
“A task force will be launched in the coming weeks, and the full amount is expected to be mobilized within six months,” Konaté said.