With the successful first-phase completion of the AFI Sub-Saharan Africa – Middle East & North Africa Regional Office (RO) establishment mission to Dakar, Senegal, AFI along with Banque Centrale des Etats de l’Afrique de l’Ouest (BCEAO) visited the co-host in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.

Expediting the positive momentum from Dakar, the Honourable Minister, M Adama Koné of the Ministry of Economy and Finance, Côte d’Ivoire, further reinforced and extended the Government’s full support towards AFI’s establishment in the country. He reiterated that AFI’s presence in the region would further the social and economic advancement of the country and the region through financial inclusion.

AFI’s Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Ravi Vig, extended his appreciation to the Ministry and BCEAO for expediting establishment formalities, including but not limited to the meeting to discuss the Host Country Agreement (HCA) with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. “With all the assurance and support being provided by the Ministry of Economy and Finance, Côte d’Ivoire, and the BCEAO, we expect to be fully up and running much before the end of this year, and hoping to be going into our Global Policy Forum (GPF) this September in Egypt with a regional presence”, Ravi Vig added.

The delegation comprising Mr David Lee (AFI’s Project Manager), Mr Efoe Koudadjey (Regional Coordinator for SSA/MENA), Mms Caroline Tioman (Technical Advisor, Ministry of Economy and Finance of Côte d’Ivoire), Mme Dollo Hélène (Director, General Department of Treasury & Public Accounting Treasury), and Mr Bwaki Kwassi (Advisor to the General Manager of Operations and Fiduciary Activities, BCEAO) operationalized this extensive mission with various meetings, discussions and due-diligence exercises, including visits to AFI’s new office site, residential areas, hospitals and international schools.