Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, January 29, 2026 — To help identify and support the growth of high-potential local businesses in Côte d’Ivoire, IFC, a member of The World Bank Group, and the Confédération Générale des Entreprises de Côte d’Ivoire (CGECI), the country’s leading employers association, today announced the launch of the Local Champions Acceleration Initiative in the country.
The IFC-led Local Champions Acceleration Initiative will work with CGECI to identify and support companies with proven maturity, strong market presence, and solid organizational capacity, as well as the potential to grow, create jobs, and drive socio-economic development in Côte d’Ivoire.
Under the partnership, IFC will provide advisory services to CGECI, share technical expertise, and offer guidance based on international best practices. The goal is to create a pipeline of businesses with the potential to receive investment from IFC and other financiers.
CGECI President, Ahmed Cissé, said, “CGECI is committed not only to mobilizing high-potential companies, but also to supporting their capacity building, in order to ensure that every opportunity offered by this agreement is fully seized by national economic players."
Nathalie Kouassi Akon, Division Director, Gulf of Guinea, IFC, said, “Working with CGECI for this first-of-its-kind partnership, IFC is excited to launch the Local Champions Acceleration Initiative in Côte d’Ivoire, where we will provide the tailored support to select local businesses that need to grow and receive investment. Private sector businesses are essential for development and job creation, and in Côte d’Ivoire, there are excellent, innovative businesses that we look forward to supporting to grow and reach new markets.”
This partnership underscores IFC and CGECI’s shared commitment to fostering sustainable economic growth in Côte d’Ivoire by supporting local businesses with demonstrated potential for expansion, impact, and good governance.
This initiative, piloted in Côte d’Ivoire and intended to be replicated across other African countries under various forms, is a testament to IFC’s commitment to further supporting thriving local businesses that create jobs and add value.
IFC’s program in Côte d'Ivoire is its largest in the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) and is among the largest in Africa. As of January 2026, IFC’s investment portfolio in the country totaled $879 [FY1] million across energy, health, housing, agroindustry, capital markets, and access to finance for MSMEs.
About IFC
IFC — a member of the World Bank Group — is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets. We work in more than 100 countries, using our capital, expertise, and influence to create markets and opportunities in developing countries. In fiscal year 2025, IFC committed a record $71.7 billion to private companies and financial institutions in developing countries, leveraging private sector solutions and mobilizing private capital to create a world free of poverty on a livable planet. For more information, visit www.ifc.org.
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About CGECI
The General Confederation of Enterprises of Côte d’Ivoire (CGECI) is the leading employers’ organization representing the private sector in Côte d’Ivoire. It unites professional groups, business associations, and companies across all industries — including manufacturing, trade, agriculture, and services. The Confederation encompasses 27 professional groups and associations, representing nearly 80% of the modern Ivorian private sector, generating over 22 trillion CFA francs in annual turnover, and providing more than 400,000 jobs through its member companies.
As a major advocate for the business community, the CGECI plays a central role in representing enterprises, safeguarding their interests, and driving the promotion of their activities. It serves as the principal counterpart for public authorities, labor unions, and other stakeholders on matters relating to the improvement of the business climate, the enhancement of corporate competitiveness, the promotion of dialogue among social partners, the expansion of the private sector, and the creation of wealth through the encouragement of private initiatives and entrepreneurship.
Since December 28, 2022, the CGECI has been under the leadership of Mr. Ahmed CISSÉ, whose mandate was unanimously renewed by the Confederation’s Board of Directors in November of last year.
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