The African Development Bank officially launched its 2025 edition of the Country Focus Reports in Abidjan, beginning with Côte d'Ivoire, a country projected to be one of the fastest growing in the world this year.
The Country Focus Reports (CFRs), developed as a companion to the Bank's annual African Economic Outlook (AEO), provide country-specific macroeconomic analysis and policy recommendations. They aim to guide policymakers, investors, development partners, and researchers with tailored insights that support national development priorities.
Launched in May 2025 at the Bank's Annual Meetings, the 2025 AEO explores the theme: "Making Africa's Capital Work Better for Its Development." The Country Focus Reports build on this by providing localized data, context, and recommendations.
Speaking at the launch event, Prof. Kevin Urama, Chief Economist and Vice President for Economic Governance and Knowledge Management at the African Development Bank Group, emphasized the importance of national-level insights. "The Country Focus Reports (CFRs) serve as a vital tool for bringing the macroeconomic insights of the Africa Economic Outlook (AEO) down to national level," he said, adding that were produced in close consultation with local and international experts.
Urama highlighted promising trends from the 2025 AEO, noting that:
- 21 African countries are projected to achieve GDP growth rates above 5% in 2025;
- Four, including Cote d'Ivoire, are on course to surpass the 7% threshold--a key target for eradicating poverty; and
- Côte d'Ivoire is also one of eleven African countries forecast to be among the world's 20 fastest-growing economies in 2025
Describing Côte d'Ivoire as a "treasure trove of natural resources and human capital," Urama attributed its strong economic performance to its dominance in global cocoa production, accounting for 40% of global output; growing gold and crude oil production; youthful population, with nearly half of the population under 20; as well as rising investments in telecommunications and transport.
Prof. Clément Kouakou, Deputy Chief of Staff to the Ivorien Minister of Economy, Planning and Development, praised the report's relevance, stating: "The Country Focus Report offers practical recommendations to improve the efficiency of Cote d'Ivoire's growth levers and to sustain our upward trajectory in economic growth and human development."
A high-level panel discussion followed under the theme "Making Côte d'Ivoire's Capital Work Better for Its Development." Panelists included:
- Marcelin Cissé, Director General of Planning, Ministry of Economy, Planning and Development
- Joseph Ribeiro, Deputy Director General, West Africa, African Development Bank
- Rose Don Mello, Executive Secretary, Union of Large Industrial Enterprises of Côte d'Ivoire (UGECI)
- Hugues Kouadio, Director, l'École nationale supérieure de statistique et d'économie appliquée d'Abidjan (ENSEA)
- Marcellin Ndong Ntah, Lead Economist, African Development Bank
Mr. Cissé disclosed that Côte d'Ivoire achieved average annual GDP growth of 6.5 percent between 2021 and 2025, up from 2.1 percent in the 2012-2019 period, driven by investment in fiscal and governance reforms, under the National Development Plan 2021-2025. A new plan for 2026-2030 is targeting 7 percent average annual growth.
From the private sector, Ms. Don Mello underscored the critical need for skilled labor and noted that businesses are increasingly supporting training initiatives and curriculum reform to close talent gaps.
The launch of the Côte d'Ivoire report marks the beginning of the Bank's rollout of the full 2025 Country Focus Report series, with national launches to follow across its country offices.
