The Minister of State, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Nialé Kaba, and the Ambassador of Japan in Ivory Coast, Gomakubo Junji signed an agreement on Friday, February 20, 2026 at Abidjan.

The Japanese government donated 1,618 billion yen, or about 6.5 billion FCFA, to support maintenance road in Greater Abidjan. This non-repayable financing is part of the framework of the Road Maintenance Equipment Improvement Project. He will allow the acquisition of modern equipment intended to strengthen operational capacities of Ivorian technical services, in a context of accelerated modernization of the infrastructures of the economic capital.

According to Nialé Kaba, this project responds to a joint solicitation of the technical ministries concerned, with the aim of to ensure the safety of users and the fluidity of traffic.

Gomakubo Junji recalled the strategic role of Côte d'Ivoire, which represents nearly 40% of WAEMU's GDP and remains an engine of growth in West Africa. He specified that this support is part of the momentum of the Tokyo International Conference on the development of Africa (TICAD 9), held in August 2025, which focuses on in particular on the quality of infrastructures as a lever for development and regional integration.