EU Regional Business Forum – West Africa Corridors: a lever for investment partnerships

From 30 March to 1 April 2026, Abidjan hosts the EU Regional Business Forum, a high-level meeting designed to accelerate investment and strengthen collaboration along the strategic Abidjan-Lagos and Abidjan-Ouagadougou corridors. The Forum is organised in collaboration with the European Union and key national and regional partners, including Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Benin, Ghana and Togo. The Forum brings together public authorities, financial institutions, international organisations and dozens of private sector players to identify business opportunities and forge lasting partnerships.

For Enabel, which is leading the Global Gateway Support project for these corridors, the Forum is a unique opportunity to link European and African companies with local needs, expertise and national strategies. Through B2B, B2G and G2G meetings, investment pitches and thematic roundtables, the event aims to turn strategic ambitions into tangible projects that improve connectivity, mobility, trade and economic resilience.

“At a time when international cooperation increasingly requires a strong commitment from the private sector, the Forum is where Enabel takes up its facilitator role linking innovation, public policy and high-impact investment to stimulate sustainable growth in West Africa,” says Jean Van Wetter, CEO of Enabel.

Why is the EU Regional Business Forum in Abidjan so important today?

Jean Van Wetter: “This Forum comes at a time when relations between Africa and Europe are being redefined. We are moving away from an aid-centred model towards one based on partnership, investment and shared economic interests. For Belgium, this is a strategic shift. Our prosperity, competitiveness and transition objectives are increasingly tied to Africa’s economic growth and regional integration. Abidjan is an ideal place for this debate: It is a major economic hub and gateway to West Africa. It is strategically located at corridors linking markets, people and value chains. This Forum is a working platform where Belgian, European and African players can seize opportunities and turn policy into economic reality.”

From policy vision to projects: what is often missing?

Jean Van Wetter: ”The European Union and Belgium have solid strategies, funding tools and political commitments. Often, the ability is lacking to translate these ideas into concrete, financially viable projects. Investments fail, not because capital is lacking, but because local ecosystems are complex: regulatory frameworks, institutional capacity, networking with partners and trust are all important factors. This is where international cooperation needs to evolve, moving from funding projects to creating favourable ecosystems. Implementation, local embedment and long-term commitment are decisive.”

What added value does an agency like Enabel bring, for Belgium and for business?

Jean Van Wetter: ”Enabel is a key instrument of Belgian and European international cooperation precisely because we operate where public policy, local needs and private sector dynamics intersect. Thanks to our long-standing presence in partner countries, we offer access to trusted local networks, including public authorities, local businesses, financial institutions and civil society. We help companies understand local contexts, identify credible partners and navigate the regulatory and institutional environments. In doing so, we reduce risk and help to ensure that investments are sustainable, responsible and aligned with local development priorities. We are not investors ourselves, but we facilitate investment by creating the right conditions for it to succeed.”

Corridors are more than just infrastructure. What does success look like?

Jean Van Wetter: ”Infrastructure is just the starting point. A corridor is successful when it generates economic activity along its entire length. When local SMEs grow, jobs are created, logistics improve and trade costs fall. For Belgian and European companies, success also means predictability and sustainability: clear rules, reliable institutions and local partners capable of functioning and developing. For partner countries, this means creating local return on investment that contributes to growth for all.”

How will the private sector benefit from this Forum in practical terms?

Jean Van Wetter: ”For businesses and investors, the Forum offers clarity and access. It brings together public authorities, donors and development players who shape the investment environment. It gives businesses a better understanding of the opportunities, risks and support instruments available to mitigate risks. Just as important, it creates direct relations. Public-private partnerships only work if the partners know and trust each other. Through this Forum, Enabel is helping to forge these relations and structure them around genuine investment projects.”

What is your key take-away message of the Abidjan Forum?

Jean Van Wetter:  ”My message is simple: Africa-Europe cooperation and Belgium’s commitment to Africa are strategic investments. If we want Belgian and European businesses to invest and succeed in Africa, we need solid local partnerships, credible institutions and a long-term commitment. This is precisely where a public player like Enabel comes into its own: linking policy to practice. Abidjan is not an end in itself. This is the start of genuine partnerships and investments that will shape our common future.”