AfDB President Ould Tah Pays Courtesy Call on President Ouattara
The President of the African Development Bank Group (AfDB), Sidi Ould Tah, on Wednesday paid a courtesy call on the President of Côte d’Ivoire, Alassane Ouattara, in Abidjan.
Ould Tah, who was elected in May as the ninth president of the pan-African multilateral institution, expressed his gratitude to the Ivorian leader for his crucial support during the election and for the warm welcome he received on assuming office.
“It was an honour for me to pay a courtesy visit to His Excellency President Alassane Ouattara to thank him for his support during the election for the Bank’s leadership and for the warm welcome I received upon my arrival in Côte d’Ivoire,” Ould Tah told journalists after the meeting, which was also attended by Côte d’Ivoire’s Minister of Economy, Planning and Development, Nialé Kaba.
The Bank’s president noted that President Ouattara had reaffirmed Côte d’Ivoire’s unwavering support for the AfDB’s mission, including the construction of its new headquarters in Abidjan.
He added: “I briefed him on the Bank’s portfolio in Côte d’Ivoire, which is excellent, and we also discussed issues of mutual interest.”
The AfDB’s portfolio in Côte d’Ivoire has expanded significantly in recent years, growing from $460 million in 2015 to $3.1 billion in 2023. Financing has supported a range of sectors including transport, energy, agriculture, health and social services. The Bank has also invested in agricultural infrastructure and cross-border connectivity projects, enhancing regional integration in West Africa.
Responding to a question from the press on the use of pension funds to co-finance development, Ould Tah stressed the importance of mobilising all available financial resources within the continent in order to address pressing challenges in a constrained global capital environment.
The visit served to reinforce the longstanding partnership between Côte d’Ivoire and the AfDB. Côte d’Ivoire is both a founding member of the Bank and its host country, with the institution operating in the nation since 1965.
Earlier this month, during his inauguration, Ould Tah paid tribute to President Ouattara for his vital role and steadfast support during the leadership election.
