Côte d'Ivoire is accelerating reforms to position itself as the private capital hub of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU). At a high-level roundtable in Abidjan, over 40 investors, regulators and financial stakeholders convened at the Sofitel Hotel Ivoire to discuss fund domiciliation strategies. The event, titled "Galvanising Regional Collaboration Opportunities in Fund Domiciliation for Côte d'Ivoire," was co-hosted by the Collaborative for Fund Domiciliation in Africa and the Association Ivoirienne des Investisseurs en Capital. Mahamadi Balima of AMF-Umoa confirmed that aligning with Ohada rules and mobilising pension funds are central to unlocking domestic capital flows.
The country already generates about 40% of WAEMU's economic output, giving it a strategic edge. Yet participants stressed that outdated regulations and the absence of modern fund structures like limited partnerships hinder progress. Nomel Guillaume Diby, deputy director for investments at IPS-CNPS, pointed out that pension fund capital remains underused despite its potential as a long-term financing source. Stephen Antwi-Asimeng of the Collaborative for Fund Domiciliation in Africa said Côte d'Ivoire could become competitive by meeting global standards and directing capital toward inclusive growth. Options such as blended finance, impact funds and crowdfunding were discussed as ways to support youth- and women-led businesses.
Côte d'Ivoire's ambition to dominate WAEMU's financial landscape hinges on reforms it has yet to implement, not on economic size alone. The fact that pension funds like IPS-CNPS are sitting on underutilised capital while private investment lags suggests a gap between policy talk and execution. If Nigeria's regulators are watching, they should note that regional influence now depends on legal precision and investor trust, not just macroeconomic figures. This isn't about catching up — it's about who sets the next standard for capital in West Africa.
