Abidjan, July 15, 2026 – The International Forum on Trades and Skills (FIMEC) stands as a crucial catalyst for achieving the ambitious targets outlined in Côte d’Ivoire’s National Development Plan (PND) 2026-2030. This was the key message delivered by Prime Minister Robert Beugré Mambé on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, during his address at the Sofitel Hôtel Ivoire in Abidjan. The Prime Minister underscored FIMEC’s vital role in forging a lasting connection between the evolving needs of the economy and the specialized competencies cultivated within the nation’s training institutions.
Prime Minister Mambé officiated the opening ceremony of FIMEC’s second iteration, an event centered on the timely theme: “Skills, Employment, and Economic Transformation in Africa: The Strategic Role of Vocational Training.”
“The National Development Plan 2026-2030 is meticulously designed to accelerate industrial growth, bolster our economy’s competitive edge, foster national industry leaders, attract increased private investment, and ultimately generate over 3 million employment opportunities by 2030. Within this strategic framework, skills development transcends mere training policy; it has evolved into a fundamental policy for economic competitiveness. Every investment directed towards enhancing skills represents a direct investment in the productivity of our enterprises, the attractiveness of our economy, and the sovereignty of our developmental trajectory,” emphasized Robert Beugré Mambé.
He affirmed the government’s steadfast commitment to rigorously pursue the necessary investments that will elevate vocational training into a powerful engine for competitiveness, social inclusion, and sustainable wealth creation. “Our overarching goal is to cultivate an ecosystem where professional training robustly supports national development priorities, strengthens business competitiveness, sparks innovation, and actively contributes to the industrialization of our economy,” he stated.
For the Prime Minister, FIMEC provides an indispensable platform for dialogue, uniting public authorities, the private sector, training organizations, and development partners. This collaborative space aims to forge coordinated solutions to pressing challenges in employment, qualification standards, and economic transformation.
“It is our collective responsibility to establish the conditions that empower every young person to acquire the essential skills needed to succeed, to innovate, to embark on entrepreneurial ventures, and to fully participate in their nation’s progress. This profound ambition steers the government’s actions. It inspires the comprehensive reforms we are implementing. And it is this very ambition that brings us together today at FIMEC,” he further elaborated.
He highlighted that the convening of this second FIMEC event powerfully demonstrates Côte d’Ivoire’s unwavering resolve to position human capital development as a cornerstone of its strategy for economic and social transformation. “The global landscape is undergoing rapid evolution. Economies are transforming at an unprecedented pace. Professions are being reimagined. In the face of these profound shifts, we have no alternative but to anticipate, to innovate, and to invest in our most invaluable asset: the women and men who will construct the Africa of tomorrow. Together, let us ensure that skills become the foremost driver of our competitiveness, our economic sovereignty, and our shared prosperity,” he urged.
The two-day agenda for this edition features a rich program including extensive exhibitions and a series of high-level panel discussions.
CICG