24.09.2013, Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire – During his two-day visit to Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, IDB Vice-President for Operations, Birima Boubacar Sidibe, signed two agreements for US$ 170.6 million to finance major development projects in the country with HE Mme Nialé KABA, Minister delegate to the Prime Minister, in Charge of Economy and Finance.
According to the agreements, US$ 162 million would be to finance the construction of North-West Region Roads aimed at the economic and social development of the north-west region, which is mainly based on herding; cultivation of cereals, fruits and cotton, and mining of gold and other minerals. The road project is also expected to contribute to promoting regional integration between Cote d'Ivoire, Guinea and the neighboring landlocked countries, namely, Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger by providing
them a better access to the port of San Pedro.
The second agreement for US$ 8.6 million is for the post-conflict reconstruction of the Vocational Training School in Odienne. The reconstruction of the school will re-establish access to, and improve the quality of the training.
The Vice President visited the Hydro-Agriculture Development Project in the Region of Fromager and Upper Sassandra, to which the IDB has funded US$ 33 million. He also called on several high ranking officials including; HE Mr. Daniel Kablan Duncan, Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and Economy; HE Albert Toikeusse MABRI, Senior Minister, Minister of Development and Planning and IDB Governor for Cote d’Ivoire; HE. Moussa DOSSO, Senior Minister, Minister of Labor, Social Affairs and
Vocational Training; and HE M. Patrick Achi, Minister of Economic Infrastructure.