IMF Commends Côte d’Ivoire’s Strong Reform Performance, Reaffirms Support
The Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Kenji Okamura, has reaffirmed the Fund’s strong support for Côte d’Ivoire following the conclusion of his official visit to the country.
In a statement issued in Abidjan, Mr. Okamura commended the Ivorian authorities for what he described as “remarkable progress” in addressing macroeconomic imbalances, noting that the country’s performance under IMF-supported programmes remains solid.
According to him, the sustained progress reflects the government’s firm commitment to its homegrown reform agenda and its focus on maintaining macroeconomic stability.
Looking ahead, the IMF Deputy Managing Director stressed the importance of preserving reform momentum, indicating that continued policy discipline would be critical for Côte d’Ivoire’s ambition to attain upper middle-income status.
Mr. Okamura also welcomed the government’s intention to keep the fiscal deficit within the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) convergence ceiling, while creating space for increased investment spending.
He noted that ongoing efforts to boost domestic revenue mobilisation—particularly through the implementation of the medium-term revenue strategy—would be key to broadening the tax base and reducing informality.
On the social front, he underscored the need for further progress in social inclusion to ensure shared prosperity and support broad-based economic growth. Improvements in governance and the business environment, he added, would further enhance Côte d’Ivoire’s appeal as an investment destination.
Mr. Okamura concluded by reiterating the IMF’s continued commitment to supporting Côte d’Ivoire, expressing confidence in the strength of the partnership between the Fund and the country going forward.
