Côte d’Ivoire has launched a 450 billion CFA franc ($800 million) initiative to accelerate tech innovation and expand its startup ecosystem. The announcement was made by Minister of Digital Transition and Digitalisation Ibrahim Kalil Konaté at the Ivoire Tech Forum 2025 in Abidjan.
The initiative is part of the country’s broader digital transformation agenda and aims to enhance innovation capacity, strengthen the startup landscape, and advance digital sovereignty.
The fund will operate under a dual-financing model, with the government contributing 100 billion CFA francs ($178 million) and the remaining 350 billion CFA francs ($622 million) expected from private and institutional investors. A dedicated management entity, with minority public capital, will oversee operations to ensure both accountability and agility.
A high-level task force will be formed to coordinate fundraising, with the goal of securing full financing within six months.
The move comes as part of a broader regional digital push across West Africa. Côte d’Ivoire’s digital economy already contributes over 5% to national GDP, according to the World Bank, and is expected to grow substantially by 2030.
Held in Abidjan, the Ivoire Tech Forum 2025 gathered tech leaders, policymakers, and investors from across Africa to discuss innovation, infrastructure, and startup policy. The fund’s launch underscores Côte d’Ivoire’s ambition to become a regional leader in digital transformation, attract local talent, reduce dependency on foreign technology, and drive inclusive, tech-led economic growth.
