Ivory Coast has marked a milestone in its northern development strategy as the Invest In Autonomous District of Savanes Forum concluded in Korhogo on September 27, 2025.
Organized by the One-Stop Shop for Investment (CEPICI), the inaugural forum brought together over 1,100 participants, including Ivorian officials, domestic business leaders, international investors from France, China, Guinea, Tunisia, and representatives of the Ivorian diaspora.
The three-day event identified a portfolio of 38 major investment initiatives, including 19 projects with pre-feasibility studies and 19 additional investment opportunities. Discussions and business meetings resulted in investment intentions totalling 942.4 billion francs CFA, with 870.2 billion CFA stemming from the official project catalog and 72.2 billion CFA from outside the portfolio.
Key projects include the construction of a dry port in Ferkessédougou, a multi-product pipeline connecting Abidjan to Ferkessédougou, and a CNSL recovery unit with a 16,500-ton annual capacity. Renewable energy, vocational education, and digital infrastructure also featured prominently, with plans for solar energy production, a vocational high school in fishing, mining, construction, and solar energy, as well as a data center in Korhogo.
Agricultural and agro-industrial initiatives were highlighted, including a 2,000-hectare industrial corn plantation, a 320,000-ton animal feed production unit, composting of household waste, and mango processing and packaging facilities capable of handling 15,000 tonnes of fresh mangoes per year.
Local entrepreneurs engaged with investors across multiple sectors, ranging from agro-industry and motorized agriculture to construction, transport, and dairy production. Delegates also visited project sites, including the dry port, the 2PAI-NORD agro-industrial zone, and an energy production plant using urban waste in Kakologo, Napie commune.
The forum concluded with a recommendation to establish a Monitoring Committee to support the implementation of these investment intentions. CEPICI confirmed that projects from the Savanes Autonomous District will now be integrated into its international promotion portfolio, signalling a major push to attract long-term investment in northern Ivory Coast.
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