Mr. Jean Pierre HILLAH, the newly appointed Governor of Lions Club International District 403-A2, initiated his official tour across the four nations within his district, commencing with a significant visit to Côte d’Ivoire. On Monday, August 31, 2026, Governor Hillah was received by Dr. Souleymane DIARRASSOUBA, the Minister of Planning and Development, at his office in Abidjan.
District 403-A2 encompasses a vital region, covering Côte d’Ivoire, Togo, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, with five distinct operational regions located within Ivorian territory. The Lions Club International prioritizes its impactful interventions primarily on empowering youth through capacity building initiatives and fostering environmental protection efforts across these countries.
During the visit, the esteemed organization formally reiterated its unwavering commitment to actively support the implementation of Côte d’Ivoire’s ambitious National Development Plan (PND) for the period of 2026-2030.
The Minister of Planning and Development emphasized the timeliness of Governor Hillah’s visit, noting that Côte d’Ivoire had just embarked on a fresh cycle of its National Development Plan, making the Lions Club’s pledge particularly pertinent.
The PND 2026-2030 serves as a comprehensive blueprint reflecting the strategic vision of His Excellency President Alassane Ouattara. Its overarching goal is to elevate Côte d’Ivoire to the status of an upper-middle-income country by the year 2030, marking a significant stride in national progress.
Minister DIARRASSOUBA also highlighted the substantial mobilization of various partners rallying behind the PND 2026-2030. He underscored that the government’s actions are meticulously aligned with the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the African Union’s Agenda 2063, ensuring a holistic approach to development.
The productive discussions between Governor Hillah and Minister Diarrassouba have paved the way for enhanced cooperation, focusing on critical areas such as youth empowerment, health initiatives, educational advancement, and robust environmental stewardship.