Johannesburg: Techz News Desk – Anita Bosman
The Government of Côte d’Ivoire has taken a major step toward modernizing its trade administration with the launch of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry’s Digitalization Program, led in partnership with Cybastion’s Digital Solutions team. From October 15 to 17, 2025, Cybastion’s representative, Yves Yoboue, conducted a series of scoping and needs assessment workshops in Yamoussoukro, bringing together more than 70 officials from the Ministry’s regional directorates.
The workshops marked the initialization phase of the ambitious digital transformation project, which aims to overhaul the Ministry’s administrative and operational processes. The initiative is designed to boost institutional efficiency, enhance service quality, and strengthen revenue collection mechanisms through the adoption of advanced digital technologies.
In August 2025, the project secured a $47 million financing guarantee from the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM Bank) to support the export of U.S. digital technologies and expertise for the modernization of the Ivorian Ministry of Commerce. This financing underscores international confidence in Côte d’Ivoire’s digital agenda and the country’s commitment to leveraging technology for sustainable economic growth.
During the workshops, participants worked collaboratively to align on the strategic objectives of the digitalization program. The sessions focused on identifying operational bottlenecks within existing systems, setting digital priorities, and developing a cohesive framework for implementation across all regional offices.
The initiative reflects Côte d’Ivoire’s growing emphasis on digital governance and economic modernization, with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry seeking to streamline trade administration, improve transparency, and enhance the ease of doing business. As the program advances, it is expected to position the Ministry as a model of digital transformation within the West African region.
