Spring Meetings 2025: Côte d'Ivoire at the Heart of Strategic Discussions in Washington
The Spring Meetings 2025 of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group are taking place from April 21 to 26 in Washington, D.C., bringing together more than 10,000 participants from 191 member countries. On this occasion, Côte d'Ivoire, represented by a delegation led by Mrs. Nialé Kaba, Minister of Economy, Planning, and Development, and Mr. Adama Coulibaly, Minister of Finance and Budget, is intensifying its bilateral and multilateral consultations to strengthen its financial partnerships and enhance its macroeconomic performance.
At the opening of the proceedings, the Ivorian delegation engaged in numerous high-level exchanges, notably with Mr. Wautabouna Ouattara, administrator representing Côte d'Ivoire on the IMF Board of Directors, and Mr. Ousmane Diagana, Vice President for West and Central Africa at the World Bank.
During his meeting with the Ivorian administrator at the IMF, Minister Adama Coulibaly emphasized that this mission to Washington aims to assess the emerging issues dominating the global and regional economic agenda. He recalled that the last IMF mission to Abidjan recognized the "remarkable economic performance" achieved by Côte d'Ivoire, including a robust growth rate, a controlled budget deficit with a target of 3% of GDP for 2025, and inflation kept around 3.5%.
As part of the bilateral cooperation with the World Bank, discussions with Mr. Ousmane Diagana allowed for a review of the status of the Ivorian portfolio, which amounts to over $5 billion (approximately 3 trillion CFA francs), making it the second largest in the region after Nigeria's. The Vice President praised the quality of project execution, the country's budget discipline, and the rigor in meeting its financial commitments, reaffirming the World Bank's commitment to support Côte d'Ivoire in its efforts for economic transformation and sustainable development.
Furthermore, the delegation also exchanged views with Mr. Abebe Selassie, Director of the IMF Africa Department. Several meetings are scheduled for the coming days, including with the management of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the Ministers of UEMOA, as well as with Messrs. Eric Meyer and Scott Rembrandt, Senior Officials within the U.S. Treasury, to review the progress of the economic and financial program and compliance with FATF standards.
Côte d'Ivoire's participation is part of a strategic approach to positioning itself within international economic institutions, in a context where issues related to debt sustainability, global financial architecture, and access to concessional resources are central. It also reflects the authorities' desire to enhance the country's economic attractiveness, continuing the structural reforms undertaken.
Source: SERCOM MFB, Web Portal Editorial MEPD
