Nestled in the south of the eponymous commune, one of the three communes of the Abidjan district, the Koumassi industrial zone (ZI) is one of the fruits of industrialization undertaken by Côte d'Ivoire following its independence. Abidjan alone concentrates 70% of the country's industries and 60% of modern sector jobs. Koumassi plays a central role, hosting agri-food production units, plastics processing and household items manufacturing. On its 120 hectares, nearly 296 companies are active today, making this area one of the densest in the country. Its industrial fabric testifies to a long-standing sectoral diversification, even if the infrastructures have suffered the effects of time and decades of underinvestment.

An expected rehabilitation

Faced with the dilapidation of equipment and roads, the Ivorian government has taken note of the need for upgrade. In January 2022, the Minister of Commerce and Industry, Souleymane Diarrassouba, officially announced the launch of technical rehabilitation studies, costing 22 billion CFA francs. These studies have since been completed and the tender documents are available, with a revised cost of the work estimated at 10.4 billion FCFA excluding network relocation. The concrete kick-off came on December 28, 2023, when the Company for the Management and Development of Industrial Infrastructures (SOGEDI) effectively launched the rehabilitation work on the Koumassi and Vridi ZIs. This work aims to bring business reception equipment and infrastructure up to international standards. This modernization was part of the National Development Plan (PND 2021-2025), which aimed to increase the contribution of the industrial sector to Ivorian GDP to 30%. Prime Minister Patrick Achi had also included this dynamic in a broader vision during his governance. Namely, create industrial zones in cities in the interior of the country, as close as possible to natural resources and employment areas. 

Note that the Koumassi industrial zone is much more than an economic perimeter. It is the mirror of the ambitions and contradictions of the Ivorian industrial model. Its rebirth will contribute to making Koumassi a model of competitiveness for all industrial zones in Côte d'Ivoire.