There are only a few days left, and every hour counts. While the diplomatic clock is ticking before the meeting at the Sofitel Abidjan Hôtel Ivoire, the Minister of Planning and Development, Dr Souleymane Diarrassouba, has chosen Brussels as the new stop on an international tour which has already taken him to Washington, Brazzaville, Baku and Paris. At the heart of the discussions, the conditions for reinforced European support for the PND 2026-2030, the total implementation of which is estimated at 114,838.5 billion CFA francs, with 70.2% of financing expected from the private sector. During his meetings with Koen Doens, Director General of International Partnerships of the European Commission, and Olof Skoog, Deputy Secretary General of the European External Action Service, the Minister presented the strategic priorities of the plan (infrastructure, energy, industry, agriculture, digital, health, professional training and tourism). 13.658 billion euros in trade in 2025 (an increase of 23%) prepares a new cooperation strategy aligned with national priorities. New financial instruments are being developed, including risk-sharing mechanisms and green financing solutions to mobilize private investment. With Belgium alone, trade reached 1.449 billion euros. In front of companies and investors gathered by the Embassy of Côte d'Ivoire in Belgium, in partnership with the CBL-ACP Chamber of Commerce, the Minister presented the country's assets. A Ba2/BB/BB sovereign rating with a stable outlook and growth sectors attractive to foreign capital. The session was held in the presence of the ambassadors of the European Union and Belgium in Côte d'Ivoire.

The countdown is on. Abidjan will have to raise 11,138.2 billion CFA francs from its partners on July 8 and 9, 2026 to finance the nation project that Côte d'Ivoire aims to become, an upper middle-income country.