The Minister of Trade, Industry and Handicrafts, Kalil Konaté, granted an audience this Friday, June 12, 2026, to the leaders of the Ivoire Acier and B5 groups. The objective of this meeting was the presentation of a major industrial project with a total value of 110 billion CFA francs , targeting two strategic sectors: metallurgy and the pharmaceutical industry.

A large-scale industrial deployment

Prior to this meeting, the Director General of Industry conducted a site visit to assess potential future locations. The investments will be structured as follows:

1. PK47 industrial zone (Northern Highway): Construction of a steelworks unit.
2. PK24 industrial zone (developed by ARISE Ivoire): Installation of a rolling mill.

Ultimately, these facilities will enable the production of reinforcing steel and various metallurgical products. This local production will aim to supply the Ivorian market as well as the sub-regional market, while generating thousands of direct and indirect jobs.

Heading towards health and industrial sovereignty

Mukesh Thakwani, Chairman and CEO of the Ivoire Acier Group, reaffirmed the investors' ambition to align with international quality standards to sustainably support the country's industrial development. According to the provisional schedule,

The first phase of the project will be inaugurated as early as December 2026 .

In addition to the metallurgical aspect, the project incorporates a significant medical dimension. The group plans to invest in the local manufacturing of medicines and, in the longer term, vaccines, thus addressing the health sovereignty challenges facing Côte d'Ivoire.

The government's reaction: Minister Kalil Konaté welcomed this private initiative, noting that metallurgy and pharmaceuticals are priority sectors of the national industrialization policy. He reiterated the government's commitment to supporting investors to ensure the success of this project, a driver of competitiveness, added value, and job creation.

This dual investment marks a decisive turning point in Ivory Coast's economic strategy, further consolidating the country's status as an essential industrial hub in West Africa.