The Council of Ministers met on Wednesday , December 3, 2025 , at the Presidential Palace in Abidjan, under the chairmanship of His Excellency Mr. Alassane Ouattara . The meeting, which took place from 11:00 a.m. to 2:15 p.m., resulted in the adoption of several important measures and communications covering the areas of foreign affairs, the economy, energy, infrastructure, housing, education, and youth.

🏛️ General Measures: Draft Laws, Ordinances and Decrees

✈️ Foreign Affairs and Air Transport

The Council adopted two draft ratification laws for Air Service Agreements with Angola (signed in Luanda on 24/06/2025) and the Sultanate of Oman (signed in Montreal on 22/09/2025). These agreements are part of the policy to liberalize air transport and guarantee the right of overflight, non-commercial stopover, and landing for the embarkation and disembarkation of passengers, freight, and mail, without limitations on frequency or capacity.

🏗️ Construction, Housing and Urban Planning: Mandatory Insurance

A bill amending the Construction and Housing Code (Law No. 2019-576 of June 26, 2019) has been adopted to clarify and strengthen the obligation of insurance.

1. For builders: Obligation to take out All Risks Construction Insurance (before the start of construction) and Ten-Year Civil Liability Insurance (covering material damage for 10 years).
2. For owners: Obligation to take out Civil Liability Guarantee Insurance covering bodily injury and property damage caused to third parties in the event of the building collapsing due to a construction or maintenance defect.

⚡ Energy and Mines: MCA-Ivory Coast Regional

The Council adopted an order establishing the Millennium Challenge Account-Côte d'Ivoire Regional (MCA-Côte d'Ivoire Regional) , as well as a draft ratification law. This specialized agency under the Presidency is responsible for implementing the US$322.5 million Regional Energy Compact signed with the MCC in September 2025, which aims to stimulate economic growth through sub-regional electricity trade.

☕ Agriculture: Recognition of the OIA Coffee-Cocoa

A decree has been adopted recognizing the Interprofessional Agricultural Organization (OIA) of the Coffee-Cocoa sector . This measure aims to consolidate the performance of the sector, which generated nearly 3,000 billion CFA francs for producers in 2024, and to further increase producers' incomes (cocoa at 1,800 FCFA/kg and coffee at 1,500 FCFA/kg on average).

⛏️ Mines: Granting of Exploration Permits

Thirteen (13) decrees were adopted for the allocation of mining exploration permits, valid for four (4) years , to various companies for the exploitation of gold , iron , aluminum and copper in several departments.

1. Gold: Attributed in particular to BARRICK GOLD COTE D'IVOIRE SARL, SIER SARL, SINAIM SARL, ORCA GOLD CDI SARL, ECOMINIER SARL, MINEX WEST AFRICA SARL, SHARK MINING CDI SARLU, ASPIRE NORD COTE D'IVOIRE SARL, NEW MINING COTE D'IVOIRE SA and GEMICA.
2. Iron, Aluminium and Copper: Attributed to EBURNIE MINERAL.

💶 Ratification of Financing Agreements

The Council adopted several decrees ratifying financing agreements for major projects:

Domain	Funding	Partners)	Main Objective
Climate/Development	80 million Euros (52.477 billion FCFA)	KFW (BMZ loan)	Budgetary support for reforms for climate objectives (NDC): promotion of renewable energy, access to electricity, management of protected areas, conservation of biodiversity.
Health/Early Childhood	5.3 million Euros (3.477 billion FCFA)	AID (Donation)	Funding for the Expansion and Innovation Program for Health, Nutrition and Early Childhood Development, aimed at increasing the quality of services for women and disadvantaged populations.
Social Housing	37 billion FCFA (Loan)	BOAD	Partial financing of phase 3 of the project to build 4,300 social and affordable housing units, including 1,100 units in Yamoussoukro and Bouaké.
Accessibility/Infrastructure	115.66 million Euros (75.868 billion FCFA)	BAD (Loan)	Funding for the Transboundary and Agricultural Areas Development Programme - Phase 2 (PDZTA-2): construction of 302.5 km of roads, 1 bridge (Black Volta), 33 km of urban roads, 103 km of tracks, rehabilitation/construction of schools (13) and health centres (6).
Credit Guarantee	308.3 billion FCFA	BAD (GPC) / Société Générale CI/SN, Deutsche Bank AG	Ratification of the Counter-Compensation Agreement linked to a financing of 374 billion FCFA benefiting from a Partial Credit Guarantee from the AfDB.

🚢 Maritime Transport: Access to the Shipowner Profession

A decree has been adopted to establish the conditions for access to the profession of shipowner in maritime commerce and traffic . It makes the practice of the profession subject to obtaining approval in order to guarantee the quality and reliability of operators, combat illegal activities and protect the national flag.

🏭 Heritage and Public Enterprises: Creation of SIMEP

A decree authorized the State and SODEMI to take financial participation in the capital of the Société Ivoirienne des Métaux Précieux (SIMEP) , a new company under national law with a capital of 5 billion FCFA dedicated to the processing of precious metals .

1. Objectives: Construction of a gold refining unit (estimated cost: 5 billion FCFA), establishment of a national gold buying office and promotion of a jewelry unit.
2. Shareholdings: State (10%), SODEMI (39%).

🧑‍🎓 Youth and Education: Socio-Educational Institutions and

Distance Learning

1. Socio-Educational Institutions (ISEs): A decree has been adopted to determine the procedures for the creation, opening, organization, and operation of ISEs (Youth Centers, Youth Activity and Training Centers, etc.). These structures for supervision and lifelong learning are provided for by the 2023 Youth Policy Act.
2. Distance Learning (TVET): A decree has established and regulated the implementation of distance learning in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET). It aims to remove geographical and social constraints and provides for the use of innovative tools such as artificial intelligence and sovereign platforms for certification.

🌳 Water and Forests: Classified Forests and Carbon Credits

1. Redefining Boundaries: Eight (8) decrees have been adopted to redefine the boundaries of eight classified forests (Koba, Laleraba, Logahan, Lokpoho, Niarafolo, Warigue, Pallakas, Upper N'Zi) to meet anthropogenic needs and resolve land disputes, while taking into account the conservation of biodiversity.
2. Carbon Credits: A decree has approved a Forest Concession Agreement (duration of 50 years) with the company Bio SPV Karidja for the rehabilitation of degraded areas and the conservation of biodiversity in the Agro-Forest of Haut-Sassandra , with a view to the generation of carbon credits .

👤 Individual Measures

1. Appointment: Mr. DOSSO Abou , Ambassador, is appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire to the People's Republic of China , with residence in Beijing.
2. Approvals: The Council has given its approval for the appointment of three Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire:
3. Portugal: Mr. FRANCISCO-XAVIER GRAÇA DE MEIRELES (residence in Abidjan).
4. Denmark: Mr. JAKOB LINULF (residing in Accra, Ghana).
5. Norway: Mr. JOHN MIKAL KVISTAD (residing in Accra, Ghana).

📢 Communications

🌍 African Union-European Union Summit

The Council took note of Côte d'Ivoire's participation in the 7th African Union-European Union Summit (Luanda, 24-25 November 2025). Emphasis was placed on the need for a renewed and balanced partnership , with African advocacy for fairer representation in global governance bodies, sustainable debt solutions, increased financing for climate adaptation, and strengthened European investment (digital infrastructure, energy transition, agro-industrial transformation).

📈 Integrated Mineral Resources and Energy Policy (PIRME)

The Council adopted a communication on PIRME , a 15-year framework (estimated total cost: 38,000 billion FCFA ) aimed at making extractive resources and energy a major pillar of the economy, to raise Côte d'Ivoire to the rank of upper-middle-income countries by 2030.

1. Objectives: Increase the production of minerals and hydrocarbons, promote local processing for added value and develop the production of electrical energy by increasing the share of renewable sources .

🗓️ Organization of SIREXE 2026

The Council adopted a communication on the organization of the 2nd International Exhibition of Extractive Resources and Energy (SIREXE 2026) , from 18 to 22 December 2026, on the theme "Extractive and Energy Industries: What Infrastructure to Support Economic Development in Africa?". Botswana will be the featured country.

💰 Public Procurement: First Half 2025 Review

1. Number of approved markets: 2,908 by the end of June 2025 (up 59% compared to 2024).
2. Contract value: 684.7 billion FCFA (down 6.3% compared to 2024).
3. Competitive procedures: Represent 66.2% of the amount (down 4.4 points).
4. Share of SMEs: Significant increase of 10.1 points to reach 38.8% of the amount of approved contracts, exceeding the minimum regulatory threshold of 30%.

🏘️ Inventory of State Real Estate Assets

The project to inventory state real estate assets, aimed at creating a centralized database, had identified 28,187 properties as of August 31, 2025 (end of phase 1). Phase 2 , launched in September 2025 for 12 months, will cover other localities in the country and properties abroad.

🔨 Industrial Strategy: Construction Materials

The Council adopted the Strategy for the Development of the Construction Materials, Furniture and Equipment Industry (2025-2035). It aims to position Côte d'Ivoire as a sub-regional leader by strengthening local competitiveness and governance.

1. Pilot phase (5 years): Focused on the timber industry , with the creation of an integrated industrial zone in San Pedro . This phase plans the creation of 25 new units and more than 15,000 additional direct jobs by 2035 (estimated cost: 32.5 billion FCFA).