By Ayomide Otitoju
The OPEC Fund for International Development (OPEC Fund) has launched an official mission to Côte d’Ivoire to strengthen strategic cooperation with the African Development Bank Group (AfDB) and advance joint efforts to support sustainable development across Africa. The delegation is led by OPEC Fund President Abdulhamid Alkhalifa.
A key event during the visit was the AfDB–OPEC Fund Partnership Day at AfDB headquarters, which brought together senior leaders from both institutions to reinforce collaboration and align development priorities. During bilateral talks, President Alkhalifa and AfDB President Sidi Ould Tah signed an amendment to their existing Memorandum of Understanding, enhancing cooperation across public and private sector operations, co-financing, and knowledge exchange.
“Africa remains central to the OPEC Fund’s mission,” Alkhalifa said. “Our partnership with the AfDB continues to evolve into a more strategic and impact-driven collaboration, focused on accelerating delivery and supporting country-led development priorities. By working more closely together, we can scale solutions and deliver stronger results for people and communities across the continent.”
The OPEC Fund and AfDB have partnered for nearly five decades, supporting about 120 projects in energy, transport, agriculture, water, health, education, and finance, with US$1.5 billion in co-financing.
As part of the mission, Alkhalifa visited the Atinkou Power Plant, a 390-MW combined-cycle gas facility co-financed with the AfDB and other international development partners. The project has bolstered Côte d’Ivoire’s baseload power supply by replacing inefficient generation capacity and providing reliable electricity for households and industry.
The visit also includes a high-level consultation between the Arab Coordination Group and the AfDB, aimed at enhancing coordination among development partners and supporting Africa’s long-term growth and resilience.
