• Government presents 27 companies chosen for the new innovation and business-transformation program

• Initiative targets start-ups, microenterprises, SMEs, and mid-sized firms in 15 strategic sectors

• Selection used a three-stage process combining eligibility screening and expert review

Prime Minister Robert Beugré Mambé yesterday introduced the first group of 27 companies selected for the Economic Program for Innovation and Business Transformation, known as PEPITE-CI 2030.

The initiative aligns with the national strategy to build and scale domestic business champions from 2026 to 2030. It is designed to identify, support, and transform start-ups, microenterprises, SMEs, and mid-sized companies across 15 strategic clusters.

Small and medium enterprises remain central to Côte d’Ivoire’s economy, accounting for 23 % of GDP and 23 % of formal jobs in 2021, according to government data released in early 2024. Yet limited access to financing continues to hold back growth: 78 % of SMEs say funding constraints slow their development, according to the World Bank Group’s Enterprise Surveys.

The Prime Minister urged Ivorian companies, young entrepreneurs, and inventors to take full advantage of the program, noting that broad calls for applications will open in 2026 for each category of firms.

The selection process unfolded in three stages: an initial screening based on eligibility criteria; a detailed assessment using specific indicators; and a final review by a panel of experts.

“The choices made through a competitive and rigorous approach must deliver results in the coming years. Following this ceremony, the individual needs of each selected company will be reviewed using the latest available data to reflect their true economic situation at the end of 2025,” Mambé said.

Ingrid Haffiny (intern)