IFC’s Ndaw Sako Highlights Strong Reform Momentum

Casablanca, November 18, 2025 – “The Central African Republic possesses exceptional strengths: vast natural resources, a strategic geographic position, and a young and dynamic population. These are foundations on which real growth can be built.” This was the clear and confident message from Charlotte Ndaw Sako, Regional Representative of the International Finance Corporation (IFC) for Central Africa, at the Investment Round Table in Casablanca. Her remarks offered a data-driven perspective on the country’s business environment – one that combines realism about existing constraints with optimism about the opportunities created by ongoing reforms.

A New Economic Landscape Backed by Structural Strengths

Drawing on the World Bank Group’s new Business Ready diagnostic Ndaw Sako emphasized the CAR’s strong fundamentals. She highlighted three structural advantages: the country’s abundant natural resources, its pivotal geographic position in Central Africa, and a young, rapidly growing population that represents a potential demographic dividend for long-term development. These fundamentals, she stressed, support high-potential agricultural value chains, stronger regional economic integration, and new possibilities for public-private partnerships.

Business Ready Findings: Progress, Potential, and Reform Opportunities

Ndaw Sako explained that the CAR already demonstrates notable strengths across several areas. She pointed out that the country performs particularly well in the domain of business creation due to efficient regulatory frameworks. She emphasized that labor regulation and dispute resolution are supported by a comprehensive and well-established legal framework, which provides clarity for employers and employees alike. In addition, public service regulation has made significant progress, especially through the adoption of digital tools.

At the same time, she underlined persistent gaps that continue to hinder private investment. These include limited access to financing, uneven levels of service quality and operational efficiency, challenges in competition policy and taxation, and the absence of an electronic public procurement system – all areas requiring sustained reform while offering high potential impact.

A Reform Roadmap for Unlocking Investment

Turning to the path ahead, Ndaw Sako outlined a comprehensive reform agenda. She explained that infrastructure and digital connectivity must remain top priorities, with the CAR encouraged to diversify its energy mix, expand private-sector participation, invest in major transport corridors and accelerate the rollout of broadband infrastructure.

Enhancing competitiveness, she noted, requires simplifying business registration and licensing procedures, as well as helping develop export-oriented agricultural value chains that can stimulate job creation and rural development.

Finally, Ndaw Sako emphasized that good governance is key to accelerating investment. This includes extending state authority and public services to underserved regions, reinforcing judicial independence, and modernizing platforms for public-private dialogue – so that investors have predictable rules, effective institutions, and trustworthy dispute-resolution mechanisms.

A Call to Action: Private Sector as the Engine of Transformation

Ndaw Sako concluded by reaffirming the IFC’s commitment to helping the CAR implement reforms that attract private investment and drive inclusive growth. She welcomed President Touadéra’s pledge to strengthen the business climate, stressing that the private sector must become the engine of the country’s long-term transformation. “The CAR’s business climate is improving,” she said. “With each reform, the country strengthens its ability to attract private investment — and the private sector has a unique role to play in turning this vision into reality.”