WIPO Director General Daren Tang concluded a two-day official visit to Côte d’Ivoire (June 4–5, 2026), marking his first visit and reinforcing cooperation to support the country’s transition to an innovation driven economy.
In meetings with Vice President Tiémoko Meyliet Koné, Prime Minister Robert Beugré Mambé and senior ministers, he emphasized IP as a driver of jobs, growth and opportunity -especially for entrepreneurs, SMEs, creators and youth.
Discussions reflected Côte d’Ivoire’s ambition to harness IP to boost competitiveness, support young innovators and capture greater value from its cultural, agricultural and technological assets, in line with its National Development Plan 2026-2030.
Key Abidjan engagements included:
- Met with Vice President Tiémoko Meyliet Koné to align IP with the National Development Plan 2026–2030.
- Met with Prime Minister Robert Beugré Mambé on leveraging IP to strengthen innovation ecosystems.
- Discussed bilateral relations with the Minister of State, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nialé Kaba.
- Met with the Minister of Trade, Industry and Handicrafts Kalil Konaté, on supporting SMEs and youth entrepreneurs and advancing the National IP Strategy.
- Met with the Minister of Culture and Francophonie Françoise Remarck, on strengthening copyright systems and modernizing rights management.
- Discussed integrating IP into universities and accelerating research commercialization with the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Adama Diawara.
- Met with the Minister of Planning and Development, Souleymane Diarrassouba, on aligning the National IP Policy and Strategy with national development priorities.
- Opened the OAPI Heads of IP Offices Conference and joined a high-level roundtable on building inclusive and sustainable IP and innovation ecosystems in Africa.