By:
Nana Appiah Acquaye
Côte
d’Ivoire has announced preparations for its participation in VivaTech 2026 in
Paris, as the country intensifies efforts to position itself as a leading hub
for innovation and digital transformation in Africa.
The
announcement was made by Djibril Ouattara, who confirmed that a national
delegation comprising 20 startups and 10 technology small and medium-sized
enterprises has been mobilised ahead of the international technology event.
The
delegation will be accompanied by officials including Minister Mamadou Touré as
part of what authorities describe as a strategic mission aimed at strengthening
international partnerships in artificial intelligence, skills development, and
innovation ecosystems.
According
to the ministry, Côte d’Ivoire intends to use the VivaTech platform to secure
new collaborations that will accelerate the country’s digital transformation
agenda and support the growth of emerging technology firms.
Officials
also highlighted ambitions to position Abidjan as a regional innovation centre
through initiatives such as the Ivoire Tech Forum and the development of a
GovTech innovation ecosystem designed to support startups and scale-ups in the
country.
The
government stated that its long-term objective is to create conditions for the
emergence of a new generation of high-growth technology companies while
attracting global investors, talent, and multinational technology firms to Côte
d’Ivoire’s digital economy.
