Created in 2017, the Country Risk Conferences-Debates are a concept introduced by Bloomfield Investment to give an African perspective on the interpretation of risk in African countries. The concept is to produce a country risk report that maps the risks of a given country by highlighting its strengths, opportunities and areas for improvement. The aim is to give better visibility to investors, development partners and public policy authorities in the countries concerned. The report is then presented to an audience of experts, politicians, diplomats, captains of industry, private and public sector executives, students and members of civil society. This is followed by a reaction by the representative of the country concerned to the report produced and presented by the Agency.

For now, the event took place exclusively in Côte d'Ivoire but will extend to other West African countries from 2021.

The fourth edition of the Country Risk Conferences, to be held on September 17 at the SOFITEL Abidjan Hotel Ivoire, is organized in a very particular context and this in several respects. Indeed, Côte d'Ivoire, which is approaching its electoral period, has been in the spotlight for a few months. This period, which remains strongly marked by many uncertainties, is judged in this way because of the political climate that seems to be weakening and worrying the populations more and more. Especially since, the electoral stakes of this period will mark a decisive turning point in the economic and political life of Côte d'Ivoire.

In addition, the context is also marked by a global health crisis, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which is having an impact on all economies. This edition of the Country Risk Conferences is therefore an opportunity to take stock of the management of this pandemic and see how it has tested the socio-political and economic environment of Côte d'Ivoire. This will make it possible to identify the effective economic and political model to be put in place in the current context.

The Côte d'Ivoire Country Risk Report will analyse in great detail a number of quantitative and qualitative parameters of the country. The themes that will be addressed this year during the panels are perfectly in line with current events and will allow an in-depth discussion of policies and developments in key sectors of Côte d'Ivoire's economy.

It will be a question of discussing how to safeguard the economic achievements and strengthen their resilience in the face of repeated crises, to review the policies applied in terms of urbanization of our cities and finally to discuss the actions to be taken after this COVID-19 crisis in the framework of the education system, health as well as scientific research.

The opening of the Conference will be held by H.E. Mr. Adama COULIBALY, Minister of Economy and Finance of Côte d'Ivoire. On each panel, we will have members of the government, including: H.E. Mr. Moussa SANOGO, Minister of Budget and State Portfolio; H.E. Mr Bruno NABAGNE KONE, Minister of Construction, Housing and Urban Planning; and H.E. Ms. Nialé KABE, Minister of Planning and Development.

The moderators of the CI Country Risk Conferences 2020 are three experts in their respective fields: Mrs. Khady COULIBALY, Chief Executive Officer of HUDSON & CIE,

Mr. Youssouf CARIUS, Chief Executive Officer of PULSAR PARTNERS, Mr. Félix AMENOUNVE, Chief Executive Officer of BRVM.

We will also welcome on the various panels, the Directors General of several companies such as: CIE-SODECI, PETRO IVOIRE, KOFFI & DIABATE, PISAM etc. as well as representatives of international organizations such as UNESCO.

Due to health restrictions, this edition of the Country Risk Conferences will take place with a limited number of face-to-face participants unlike in previous years. We will receive a maximum of 200 people. However, the event will be streamed live on all of Bloomfield Investment Corporation's social platforms (LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter) through the hashtag "#CRP2020".