CIMDC-EU Business Forum 2026: moving from dialogue to action and fostering the implementation of urban mobility projects in Africa

As part of CIMDC 2026, Codatu and the European Union brought together representatives from African cities, businesses and financial partners on Tuesday 20 October for the CIMDC–EU Business Forum 2026.

The aim was to align the needs of local areas with the technical, economic and financial solutions capable of supporting the transformation of urban mobility in Africa.

The meeting opened with speeches by François DUROVRAY, President of Codatu, His Excellency Irchad Ramiandrasoa Razaaly, European Union Ambassador to Côte d’Ivoire, Amadou Kone, Minister for Transport and Maritime Affairs of Côte d’Ivoire, and Hien Yacouba Sié, Minister for Infrastructure and Road Maintenance, who emphasised the importance of cooperation between public, private and financial stakeholders in bringing concrete projects to fruition.

A participatory format to foster dialogue

Organised in the form of a ‘world café’, the CIMDC-EU Business Forum 2026 provided an opportunity to build on the discussions held at the previous European Union Business Forum organised in March 2026 and at the meetings of the Codatu Business Club. Its aim was to foster concrete opportunities for partnerships and projects, and it was attended by around a hundred people.

Among the topics covered were lagoon transport, intermodality, green technologies, public-private partnerships and BRT – all subjects at the heart of the discussions.

On this occasion, the European Union announced significant funding of 3 million euros for lagoon transport, to help develop a road-based alternative that will integrate seamlessly into Abidjan’s transport system, as a concrete response to the challenges facing the city of Abidjan.

This funding is unique in that it is provided through Team Europe, bringing together the technical and financial efforts of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (#EBRD/#EBRD), Invest International, the AFD – Agence Française de Développement (#AFD) and the European Investment Bank (#EIB) under the umbrella of the European Union.