Côte d'Ivoire/ UEMOA: Nearly 15,000 billion CFA francs in energy development and 121 billion CFA francs in digital development

UEMOA has pledged nearly 15,000 billion CFA francs to finance projects under the Energy Pole Development Strategy (SDPE) and 121 billion CFA francs for the Regional Digital Economy Program (PRDEN),

This announcement was made on Monday November 27, 2023 in Abidjan, at the opening ceremony of the round table on energy and digital develovelopment of energy and digital technologies within the Economic and Monetary Union of West African States (UEMOA).

For Robert Beugré Mambé, Prime Minister, Head of Government and Minister for Sport and the Living Environment, the theme of energy and digital financing has several objectives. Firstly, to develop the energy resources of the eight UEMOA member states by transforming natural resources into a force for sustainable development for the benefit of the community.rique through structuring and innovative projects that will enable populations in the most remote and socially fragile areas to have access to digital services, and to support member states in the digitization of public services for greater speed and efficiency.

"On behalf of the President of the Republic, Alassane Ouattara, and on behalf of the government, I would like to warmly welcome you for your highly distinguished presence at this round table of technical and financial partners.We would like to welcome you on behalf of the President of the Republic, Alassane Ouattara, and on behalf of the government, for your highly distinguished presence at this round table of technical and financial partners to work towards financing projects under the Energy Pole Development Strategy (SDPE) and the Regional Digital Economy Program (PRDEN). This meeting comes at a time when we need to ask the right questions about the right choices to be made in a world increasingly prey to uncontrolled shocks", said the head of the Ivorian government.

For Robert Beugré Mambé, the sharp rise in energy costs and the tightening of international financial conditions are all elements of the global economic and political situation that are jeopardizing the trajectory of development and progress in our countries. Hence the need to face up to major challenges, including not only food securityfood security, access to electricity and digital development.

"I therefore congratulate the UEMOA authorities, who have recognized the need to give this issue a sub-regional dimension, in order to provide a global response through well-organized cooperation between States. It's a firm commitment to energy self-sufficiency and independence, and an innovation with an investment of almost 15.000 billion CFA francs, to revolutionize the community's energy landscape and catalyze economic development throughout the region. In addition, there is the PRDEN, at a cost of 121 billion CFA francs, designed to integrate economies into the global information and communication network, which aims to resolve the problem of the digital divide", he enthused.

The round table on the Energy Pole Development Strategy (SDPE) and the Regional Digital Economy Program (PRDEN) for the eight UEMOA countries will be held in Côte d'Ivoire from Monday November 27 to Tuesday November 28, 2023.

Source: www.aip.ci/6450/