Fimec: advancing Côte d’Ivoire’s national development plan through skills and training

Abidjan, July 15, 2026 – The International Forum for Trades and Skills (FIMEC) stands as a pivotal instrument for realizing the ambitions outlined in Côte d’Ivoire’s National Development Plan (PND) 2026-2030. This initiative effectively bridges the gap between the economy’s evolving demands and the competencies cultivated by our nation’s training sector, as articulated by Prime Minister Robert Beugré Mambé on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, at the Sofitel Hôtel Ivoire in Abidjan.

The Prime Minister presided over the opening ceremony of FIMEC’s second edition, which convened under the compelling theme: “Skills, employment, and economic transformation in Africa: the strategic role of vocational training.”

“The National Development Plan 2026-2030 is meticulously designed to accelerate industrialization, bolster our economic competitiveness, foster the emergence of national champions, attract increased private investments, and generate over 3 million employment opportunities by 2030,” Prime Minister Mambé emphasized. “Within this overarching vision, the cultivation of skills transcends a mere training policy; it has evolved into a fundamental policy for economic competitiveness. Every investment directed towards enhancing skills is, in essence, an investment in the productivity of our enterprises, the attractiveness of our economy, and the sovereignty of our developmental trajectory.”

He further affirmed the government’s unwavering commitment to making the necessary investments to transform vocational training into a powerful engine for competitiveness, social inclusion, and sustainable wealth creation. “Our aspiration is to cultivate an ecosystem where vocational training fully aligns with national development priorities, fortifies business competitiveness, stimulates innovation, and significantly contributes to the industrialization of our economy,” he declared.

For the Prime Minister, FIMEC provides an indispensable platform for dialogue, bringing together public authorities, the private sector, training institutions, and development partners. This collaborative space aims to forge concerted strategies to address critical challenges in employment, qualification, and economic transformation.

“Our collective responsibility is to establish the conditions that empower every young person to acquire the essential skills needed to succeed, to innovate, to embark on entrepreneurial ventures, and to participate fully in the progress of their nation. This profound ambition steers the government’s actions, inspires the reforms we are implementing, and unites us today around FIMEC,” he elaborated.

He underscored that the staging of this second FIMEC edition vividly demonstrates Côte d’Ivoire’s steadfast resolve to position human capital development as a cornerstone of its economic and social transformation strategy. “The global landscape is undergoing rapid metamorphosis. Economies are transforming, and professions are continually reinventing themselves. Confronted with these profound shifts, our only viable path is to anticipate, innovate, and invest in our most invaluable asset: the women and men who will construct the Africa of tomorrow. Together, let us elevate skills to be the foremost driver of our competitiveness, our economic sovereignty, and our shared prosperity,” he concluded.

This two-day event features a comprehensive agenda, including dynamic exhibitions and insightful high-level panels.