
Ivory Coast will host a fair dedicated to small and medium-sized enterprises SMEs on June 6 in Abidjan. Organized by the international firm Kaizene in partnership with C么te d鈥橧voire Tourisme, the event aims to structure the Ivorian entrepreneurial landscape. The fair will bring together 40 women-led businesses and over 500 visitors from strategic sectors like agriculture, processing, services, and technology. It seeks to be a catalyst for economic transformation by promoting local content, competitiveness, and sustainable wealth creation. The initiative follows the Economy & Governance Forum, transitioning from discussion to action to reposition Ivorian SMEs for industrialization, export, and upgrading. The program includes exhibitions, sales, masterclasses, and thematic marketplaces. Participants will receive support on key issues such as packaging, access to international markets, financial management, taxation, and land access, especially for women in agriculture. Institutions like CEPICI, SGPME, microfinance structures, and the tax administration will provide concrete assistance. The fair will also serve as a testing ground for the Economy & Governance Forum's White Paper, aiming to refine recommendations and identify real constraints faced by SMEs to build a functional, inclusive, and competitive economic model. Organizers expect a lasting impact on the national economy, focusing on business structuring, governance, and transmission to ensure sustainability and growth. T
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Abidjan.net.
Must ReadThe Rally of Houphou毛tists for Democracy and Peace RHDP has welcomed the Ivorian government's decision to dissolve the Independent Electoral Commission CEI, announced after the Council of Ministers on Wednesday, May 6, 2026. In a statement signed by its Executive Secretary, Ibrahima Ciss茅 Bacongo, on May 8, the ruling party acknowledged the decision, noting that the CEI had organized and supervised various elections in C么te d'Ivoire for the past twenty-five years. Despite its efforts, the electoral body had consistently faced criticism from political actors and civil society organizations. The RHDP expressed satisfaction that the government addressed these concerns by dissolving the institution. The party reaffirmed its full support for President Alassane Ouattara, stating that he continues to demonstrate his responsiveness to citizens' needs for a peaceful, prosperous, and united C么te d'Ivoire. The RHDP urged political actors and civil society organizations to fully engage in preserving peace and trust to establish a new electoral management mechanism that ensures calm elections in C么te d'Ivoire.
Must ReadThe Central Bank of West African States BCEAO hosted an international conference in Dakar on May 8, 2026, focusing on the opportunities and challenges presented by crypto-assets and digital innovations for monetary and financial stability. This event follows similar conferences in 2024 and 2025 on climate change and artificial intelligence, respectively. The conference aims to analyze the implications of these digital advancements and establish appropriate regulatory frameworks. Jean Claude Kassi Brou, Governor of the BCEAO, highlighted that crypto-assets, digital payment platforms, and the increasing digitalization of financial services are reshaping financial intermediation and challenging traditional regulatory and supervisory frameworks. He emphasized that while these tools are powerful drivers of modernization, they also introduce risks and vulnerabilities, calling for rigorous international dialogue on emerging digital finance issues. The BCEAO has initiated structural actions to support this transformation. Cheikh Diba, the Senegalese Minister of Finance and Budget, noted that these innovations offer unprecedented opportunities but also demand increased collective responsibility to address complex challenges related to regulation, security, and stability. He identified key risks such as the growth of shadow banking, excessive volatility in crypto-asset markets, fraud, money laundering, terrorist financing, cyberattacks, and operational vulnerabilities. Diba expressed o
Must ReadThis article features an excerpt from the speech delivered by former President Laurent Gbagbo during the Central Committee meeting on May 7, 2026. The speech was published on Friday, May 8, 2026, by Autre Presse TV. The article is part of a larger collection of political activities from 2025-2026 on Abidjan.net, which also includes other news such as the dissolution of the CEI, the appointment of Ibrahime Coulibaly Kuibiert as President of the Council of State, and the adoption of the PND 2026-2030 by the Senate in Yamoussoukro.