Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, Téné Birahima Ouattara, officially closed the 3rd National Employment and Recruitment Fair (FNER 2026) this Wednesday, May 20th, at the Treichville Palace of Culture. On this occasion, he strongly emphasized the need to transform youth employment into a true pillar of stability, security, and cohesion for Côte d'Ivoire.

Youth employment: much more than an economic issue

For the Minister of Defense, the issue of employment is directly linked to social peace and national security, particularly in a complex sub-regional context. Addressing an audience of government members, financial partners, business leaders, and thousands of young people, he emphasized this virtuous cycle:

"Security protects development, and development strengthens security. A young person who works means a family that can breathe easier. A young person who finds their place means a country that gains in stability and security."

Faced with security threats, Birahima Ouattara maintained that the best weapons for protecting young people remain education, training, employment, and hope . He also encouraged young people to persevere, urging them to value every opportunity: "The first job may not be perfect (...), but every experience is an important step towards success."

A rapidly expanding private sector

Praising President Alassane Ouattara's vision of placing youth at the center of national priorities, the Deputy Prime Minister highlighted the country's economic vitality and the driving role of the private sector:

1. Entrepreneurial boom: The number of formal businesses in Ivory Coast increased from 63,406 in 2023 to 82,548 in 2024 , a spectacular increase of 30% in one year.
2. The key role of SMEs: Small and medium-sized enterprises represent nearly 95% of the Ivorian economic fabric, establishing themselves as the main driver of job creation.

FNER 2026: Thousands of opportunities to seize

Placed under the theme "Youth, skills and jobs: together let's build the future of Côte d'Ivoire" , this 3rd edition of the FNER shines with its ambition by mobilizing a total of 86,178 professional opportunities .

The event unfolds in two stages:

1. The Abidjan phase: From May 18 to 21 (at the Palace of Culture).
2. The regional phase: From June 1st to 3rd, to extend these opportunities across 27 regions of the country.