FIMEC 2026: driving Côte d’Ivoire’s national development plan through vocational training

Abidjan, July 15, 2026 – The International Forum on Trades and Skills (FIMEC) stands as a pivotal mechanism for realizing the ambitious goals of Côte d’Ivoire’s National Development Plan (PND) 2026-2030. By effectively aligning the economy’s demands with the capabilities nurtured within our training sector, FIMEC plays a crucial role, as stated by Prime Minister Robert Beugré Mambé on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, at the Abidjan Sofitel Hôtel Ivoire.

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

“The National Development Plan 2026-2030 is designed to accelerate industrialization, enhance the competitiveness of our economy, foster national champions, attract increased private investment, and generate over 3 million jobs by 2030. From this perspective, skills development transcends mere training policy; it has evolved into a fundamental policy for economic competitiveness. Every investment made in developing skills represents an investment in the productivity of our enterprises, in the attractiveness of our economy, and in the sovereignty of our development efforts,” Prime Minister Robert Beugré Mambé emphasized.

He affirmed the government’s unwavering commitment to continue necessary investments, transforming vocational training into a true engine for competitiveness, social inclusion, and sustainable wealth creation. “Our aspiration is to cultivate an ecosystem where vocational training fully supports national development priorities, bolsters business competitiveness, encourages innovation, and contributes significantly to the industrialization of our economy.”

In his view, FIMEC provides an essential platform for dialogue among public authorities, the private sector, training institutions, and development partners. This collaborative space aims to forge concerted solutions to the pressing challenges of employment, qualification, and economic transformation.

“It is our responsibility to establish conditions that enable every young person to acquire the essential skills for success, entrepreneurship, innovation, and full participation in their country’s development. This ambition guides the government’s actions. It inspires the reforms we are implementing. And it is this very ambition that unites us today around FIMEC,” he further added.

He highlighted that the staging of this second FIMEC event underscores Côte d’Ivoire’s consistent dedication to making human capital development a cornerstone of its economic and social transformation strategy. “The world is rapidly changing. Economies are evolving. Professions are reinventing themselves. Faced with these shifts, we have no alternative but to anticipate, innovate, and invest in our most valuable asset: the men and women who will build the Africa of tomorrow. Together, let us make skills the primary driver of our competitiveness, our economic sovereignty, and our shared prosperity.”

The two-day agenda for this edition includes a range of exhibitions and high-level panel discussions.

CICG