Abidjan, July 15, 2026 – The International Forum on Trades and Skills (FIMEC) stands as a pivotal instrument for fulfilling the ambitions of Côte d’Ivoire’s National Development Plan (PND) 2026-2030. Prime Minister Robert Beugré Mambé highlighted this on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, at the Abidjan Sofitel Hôtel Ivoire, stressing FIMEC’s enduring capacity to harmonize the economy’s evolving demands with the expertise cultivated by the nation’s training sector.
The Prime Minister presided over the opening of FIMEC’s second edition, held under the compelling theme: “Skills, Employment, and Economic Transformation in Africa: The Strategic Role of Vocational Training.”
“The National Development Plan 2026-2030 aims to accelerate industrialization, enhance our economy’s competitiveness, foster national champions, attract greater private investment, and generate over 3 million jobs by 2030. Within this framework, cultivating skills transcends a mere training policy; it has become a fundamental policy for economic competitiveness. Every investment in human capabilities represents an investment in the productivity of our enterprises, the attractiveness of our economy, and the sovereignty of our development efforts,” affirmed Robert Beugré Mambé.
He assured attendees that the government is resolutely committed to continuing the necessary investments to transform vocational training into a genuine 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,” he stated.
For the Prime Minister, FIMEC provides an essential platform for dialogue among public authorities, the private sector, training institutions, and development partners. This collaborative space is crucial for forging concerted solutions to the pressing challenges of employment, qualification, and economic transformation.
“Our collective responsibility is to establish conditions that enable every young person to acquire the essential skills for success, entrepreneurship, innovation, and full participation in their country’s advancement. This profound ambition guides the government’s actions, inspires the reforms we are undertaking, and unites us today around FIMEC,” he further elaborated.
He underscored that this second FIMEC event demonstrates Côte d’Ivoire’s unwavering dedication to making human capital development a cornerstone of its economic and social transformation strategy. “The global landscape is changing rapidly. Economies are evolving. Professions are continually reinventing themselves. In the face of these profound shifts, we have no alternative but to anticipate, innovate, and invest in our most invaluable asset: the women and men who will build the Africa of tomorrow. Together, let us empower skills to be the primary catalyst for our competitiveness, our economic sovereignty, and our shared prosperity,” he urged.
The two-day agenda for this edition includes a rich program of exhibitions and high-level panel discussions.
