Banking

The banking sector has seen sustained double-digit growth since 2011, reinforcing Côte d’Ivoire’s role as the UEMOA bloc’s primary banking centre. The potential for continuing that growth is significant, as is the impact a larger financial sector would have on the national economy. That said, there are weaknesses in terms of sector performance with regard to its ability to lend, in particular. To address this, the authorities are currently steering a course of ambitious restructuring, namely the privatisation of low-performing public banks, to further clean up the sector. The restructuring plan’s primary goal is to make banking more profitable, as well as increase retail and corporate lending. This chapter contains an interview with Tiémoko Meyliet Koné, Governor, BCEAO; and a roundtable with Daouda Coulibaly, Managing Director, Société Ivoirienne de Banque; Charles Daboiko, Managing Director, Ecobank Côte d’Ivoire; and Jean-Louis Menann Kouamé, CEO, BICICI.