The West African Development Bank (BOAD) aims to better promote awareness of its financing mechanisms among Ivorian companies. The institution organized a business lunch on Thursday, 1st of October 2026, at the Noom Hôtel in Abidjan, in collaboration with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Côte d’Ivoire (CCI-CI).
The meeting brought together business leaders and representatives from both institutions to discuss the financial instruments offered by the BOAD, eligibility criteria, and the various stages of application processing. It also allowed economic operators to engage directly with the Bank's teams regarding challenges encountered in seeking financing.
This initiative is part of a broader effort to strengthen ties with the business communities present in Côte d’Ivoire. The BOAD has already conducted similar exchanges with European and American chambers of commerce.
The objective is to improve knowledge of available resources and to identify projects potentially eligible for financial or technical support. Côte d’Ivoire, the BOAD’s leading portfolio.
This push toward the private sector occurs as Côte d’Ivoire already holds the top position in the Bank's portfolio. As of 30 June 2026, the BOAD’s cumulative commitments in the country reached 2 565 billion FCFA, representing 23,7% of all its financing since its inception.
More than 43% of this envelope has been directly allocated to the private sector. The pace of interventions has accelerated recently.
The Bank committed 329 billion FCFA in Côte d’Ivoire in 2024, then 350 billion in 2025. Its support had already reached 291,7 billion FCFA in the first half of 2026, bringing the total mobilized over these two and a half years to nearly 971 billion FCFA.
"Côte d’Ivoire holds a leading position: it currently represents the largest portfolio of our commitments," emphasized Franchy Nago, Director of the Country Development Department and Head of the BOAD Resident Mission in Côte d’Ivoire. The institution intends to pursue this momentum under its strategic plan "Djoliba… The Next Step" 2026-2030.
This plan provides for 6 500 billion FCFA in financing across the entire UEMOA, with half earmarked for the private sector. Côte d’Ivoire is expected to benefit from 1 300 billion FCFA over the period.
The envelope is intended to support projects in infrastructure, the digital economy, agriculture, agro-industry, energy, health, education, real estate, and the financial sector. Several mechanisms presented to companies.
During the meeting, the BOAD teams detailed the various instruments available to Ivorian companies. For projects with an excluding-tax cost of at least 3 billion FCFA, the Bank can intervene directly in the form of a loan.
Its financing can cover up to 50% of the total project cost, including working capital requirements. Credits can be granted for a maximum duration of ten years, with a grace period of up to three years.
The indicative rates presented range between 7,5% and 8,5%, depending on the project's characteristics and risks. These are updated every semester.
Promoters must, however, mobilize between 15% and 35% of the investment cost from their own equity. The participation of a commercial bank in the project's financing is also required.
For requirements under 3 billion FCFA, the BOAD intervenes indirectly through local banks. Notably, it provides them with refinancing lines intended for PME, microprojects, and productive investments.
These resources can take the form of framework refinancing agreements, specialized global advances, traditional credit lines, or leasing lines. Durations can reach seven years, with a maximum grace period of two years.
The BOAD can also take equity stakes in companies or financial institutions, up to a limit of 15% of the capital of each entity supported. Furthermore, it offers guarantees for bond loans, interbank loans, and negotiable debt securities.
Finally, its framework includes consulting, financial engineering, arrangement, and syndication services. The Bank can thus structure complex operations and mobilize multiple financial institutions around large-scale projects.
The CCI-CI wants to bring its members closer to financing. For the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Côte d’Ivoire, this meeting is intended to open new financing opportunities for its members.
The CCI-CI intends to leverage its proximity to businesses and its territorial coverage to improve their access to the Bank's resources. According to its president, Faman Touré,