Ivory Coast and Ghana agree on joint strategy to combat cocoa swollen shoot disease

Abidjan hosts Pan-African conference on professional equality and economic inclusion

Public actors, businesses, and international partners are gathered in Abidjan from April 15 to 17, 2026, for the Pan-African Conference on Professional Equality. Organized by GIZ and its partners, the event aims to translate commitments into concrete actions for economic inclusion and business performance across Africa. The conference, co-hosted by CGECI, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Côte d'Ivoire, and the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Crafts, brings together 100 to 150 participants from various African and European countries. A key initiative highlighted is the ProFemme project, launched in January 2025 by German cooperation, which focuses on strengthening women's economic empowerment in Côte d'Ivoire through public policy integration of gender, improved services for female entrepreneurship, enhanced female salaried employment, and promotion of decent working conditions. Kirsten Hélène, GIZ resident director in Côte d'Ivoire, emphasized persistent gender inequalities in the workplace, particularly in remuneration and access to formal employment, and called for market structuring and early education intervention. Stéphane Aka Anghui, executive director of the General Confederation of Enterprises of Côte d'Ivoire, noted that despite sustained economic growth, it remains largely non-inclusive, stressing that diversity is a performance driver. In Côte d'Ivoire, only 4% of businesses are led by women. Ms. Bergman, representing the German embassy, highlighted that