Casablanca, December 3, 2025 – “The Central African Republic is making a clear commitment through its National Development Plan for the entire world to see: embarking on an ambitious and sustainable transformation,” affirmed Cheick Kanté, World Bank Division Director for the Central African Republic, during his address at the Investment Round Table in Casablanca. “The vision is clear – to diversify the economy, strengthen the secondary sector, and create a new dynamic as the foundation for peace and prosperity. Robust value chains in agro-industry, forestry, and mining must be developed not as isolated projects, but as full economic ecosystems.”
His remarks captured the central message of the session: that the National Development Plan represents not just another policy cycle, but a strategic break with past approaches focused narrowly on stabilization and emergency response. Instead, the CAR is signaling its intention to build an economy that is inclusive, durable, resilient, and driven by a vibrant private sector.
A New Model for Economic Transformation
Drawing on the discussions of the Round Table, Kanté emphasized that the CAR’s transformation will depend on modernizing production systems, valuing local products, and creating strong value chains rooted in the country’s natural advantages. The sectors of agro-industry, forestry, and mining – long identified as high-potential – must evolve into fully integrated ecosystems capable of generating jobs, exports, and long-term growth.
This shift, he stressed, can only succeed through deep fiscal and budgetary reforms, more effective public spending, strengthened customs and tax administration, and transparent, accountable governance. These reforms, already underway with the support of the IMF and the World Bank, create the conditions for renewed international confidence and sustained investment.
Human Capital at the Center
Kanté underscored that no structural transformation is possible without investing in human capital. Expanding access to education, strengthening the health system, and building effective social protection mechanisms are all essential to unlocking the potential of the CAR’s youth and ensuring that future growth is equitable and inclusive.
He saluted the political leadership present at the session, noting that the participation of the President and the Prime Minister demonstrated a firm national commitment to development and reform.
A Call to Invest in the CAR’s Future
According to Kanté, the success of this new vision will now depend on a calm, cooperative environment that unites the government, private sector, civil society, and international partners behind a shared agenda. Public-private partnerships, greater integration of local SMEs, and stronger regional connectivity, through corridors and trade gateways, will all serve as accelerators of structural change.
“The Central African Republic has shown during these two days that it is ready: it has the vision, the strategy, and the political will. Now is the time to invest in its future,” Kanté concluded, inviting partners to join the country in moving from aspiration to reality and making the Central African Republic the new success story of the African continent.
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