CÔTE D’IVOIRE UNVEILS $800 MILLION TECH FUND TO DRIVE DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION

Côte d’Ivoire launches a landmark $800 million fund to boost tech innovation and position itself as a digital leader in West Africa.

Côte d’ivoire Digital transformation Tech innovation Startup ecosystem Investment Africa.
Côte d’Ivoire Minister of Digital Transition and Digitalisation Ibrahim Kalil Konaté
Côte d’Ivoire Minister of Digital Transition and Digitalisation Ibrahim Kalil Konaté


Côte d’Ivoire is placing a bold wager on its digital future with the launch of a transformative 450 billion CFA franc (approx. USD 800 million) innovation fund, a move widely seen as a game-changer for the West African nation’s tech ambitions.

Announced during the Ivoire Tech Forum 2025 by Minister of Digital Transition and Digitalisation Ibrahim Kalil Konaté, the fund is designed to supercharge the country’s startup ecosystem, scale homegrown innovation, and reduce dependence on imported technologies. 

However, more than just a financial commitment, the initiative reflects a paradigm shift in national economic strategy, where innovation, digital sovereignty, and youth-led entrepreneurship are placed at the center of long-term development goals.

Minister Konaté declared in Abidjan that the government is creating the conditions for local innovation to flourish, for young talents to thrive, and for Côte d’Ivoire to emerge as a digital powerhouse.

The investment structure is based on a hybrid financing model: the government will inject an initial 100 billion CFA francs (approximately USD 178 million), with the remaining 350 billion CFA francs (approximately USD 622 million) expected to come from private and institutional investors. Already, several private sector partners have pledged support, with more commitments anticipated in the coming months.

Crucially, fund management will be entrusted to an autonomous structure with minority public participation, allowing for agile, market-responsive decision-making while maintaining accountability. A high-level task force is expected to mobilise the remaining capital within six months.

The fund’s launch comes as Côte d’Ivoire deepens its efforts to digitise public services, modernise infrastructure, and build a knowledge-based economy. According to World Bank figures, the digital sector contributed over 5% to the country’s GDP in 2023, a figure projected to double by 2030.

The Ivoire Tech Forum 2025 served as a regional convening hub, bringing together tech leaders, policymakers, and investors from across Africa to align on digital transformation strategies. But it was the announcement of the innovation fund that stole the spotlight, offering a concrete signal that Côte d’Ivoire is ready to lead West Africa’s next wave of digital growth.

As the country sets its sights on a more self-reliant, tech-driven future, the fund is expected to open doors for thousands of startups, foster high-skill job creation, and embed innovation into the fabric of national development.

By moving from rhetoric to robust resource allocation, Côte d’Ivoire has declared that its digital ambitions are no longer aspirational; they’re actionable.

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