AfDB President Sidi Ould Tah Pays Courtesy Visit to Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara
The President of the African Development Bank Group (AfDB) Sidi Ould Tah, has paid a courtesy visit to the President of Côte d’Ivoire, Alassane Ouattara, reaffirming the strong partnership between the Bank and its host nation.
During the meeting held on Wednesday in Abidjan, Ould Tah expressed gratitude to President Ouattara for his unwavering support during his election in May, which saw him become the ninth president of Africa’s premier development finance institution.
“It was an honour for me to pay a courtesy visit to His Excellency President Alassane Ouattara to thank him for his support during the election for the Bank’s leadership and for the warm welcome I received upon my arrival in Côte d’Ivoire to take up my duties as president of the African Development Bank,”Ould Tah told journalists after the meeting.
He was accompanied by Côte d’Ivoire’s Minister of Economy, Planning and Development, Nialé Kaba.
According to Ould Tah, President Ouattara reaffirmed Côte d’Ivoire’s steadfast support for the Bank’s mission, including the ongoing construction of its new headquarters in Abidjan.
The AfDB president also briefed the Ivorian leader on the Bank’s robust portfolio in the country, which has seen financing rise sharply from $460 million in 2015 to $3.1 billion in 2023. These investments span key sectors such as transport, energy, agriculture, health, and social services.
Côte d’Ivoire has also benefited from AfDB’s financing for major agricultural infrastructure and cross-border connectivity projects aimed at boosting regional integration in West Africa.
When asked about innovative financing approaches, Ould Tah emphasized the importance of mobilising African resources, including pension funds, to support development.
“In a global context compounded by constrained capital, it is necessary to mobilise all the financial resources within the continent to address the challenges,” he said.
The visit further consolidates the cordial relationship between the AfDB and Côte d’Ivoire, which has hosted the institution since 1965 and is among its founding member countries.
During his recent inauguration earlier this month, Ould Tah paid tribute to President Ouattara, acknowledging his “crucial role and valuable support during the election as head of Africa’s leading development finance institution.”
The AfDB president’s visit highlights the institution’s commitment to supporting Côte d’Ivoire’s growth agenda while driving continental priorities for sustainable development.
