Côte d’Ivoire and Belgium strengthen cooperation on entrepreneurial mobility and diaspora engagement

Brussels, 9–14 March 2026 – An Ivorian delegation comprising representatives from public services, local authorities and civil society organisations is on an exchange visit to Belgium as part of the PEM N’Zassa and MIGRET projects, implemented with the support of Enabel. The initiative aims to strengthen dialogue between Ivorian, Belgian, European and international actors on the challenges and opportunities related to human mobility.

This mission provides a strategic platform for sharing the results achieved by the two projects and identifying levers to maximise the impact of entrepreneurial mobility, diaspora engagement and the reintegration of returning migrants.
 

Concrete results: PEM N’Zassa and MIGRET at the heart of the discussions

PEM N’Zassa – Stimulating entrepreneurial mobility between Côte d’Ivoire and Belgium

A pilot project supporting very small, small and medium-sized enterprises in Côte d’Ivoire through circular mobility pathways, PEM N’Zassa has achieved significant results, including:

• More than 200 micro, small and medium-sized enterprises strengthened in the agri-food, digital, green economy and cultural and creative industries sectors.
• 55 formalised economic partnerships between Ivorian SMEs and European companies, with nearly a hundred more under negotiation.
• Approximately €2 million invested by Belgian private actors in Ivorian companies.
• Trade flows between Côte d’Ivoire and the EU reaching at least €500,000.
• A visible strengthening of the internal governance, strategic vision and positioning of the companies supported.
• Structuring of the role of the Ivorian diaspora in Belgium as a facilitator of networking, socio-economic mediation and information sharing.
• A direct contribution to multi-stakeholder dialogue on regular mobility and diaspora engagement.

MIGRET – Towards territorialised and sustainable reintegration systems

Over 18 months, MIGRET has focused its action on four pilot regions by supporting:

• The analysis and strengthening of referral systems facilitating the reintegration of returning migrants.
• The development of territorial roadmaps to adapt socio-economic integration services to the specific needs of returnees.
• The structuring of a participatory dialogue between local authorities and civil society at regional and municipal level.
• The development of stronger relations between local authorities, umbrella organisations and the diaspora in order to stimulate productive investment and the creation of local opportunities.

An expanded dialogue with Belgian and European stakeholders

During their stay, participants meet with several Belgian and European institutions, including the Immigration Office, the FPS Foreign Affairs, Fedasil, Myria, hub.brussels, the City of Brussels, the European Commission, as well as diaspora organisations. These exchanges provide an opportunity to share evidence of impact, explore synergies and identify ways to strengthen the sustainability of the actions undertaken.

“This exchange visit illustrates the importance of capitalising on achievements and dialogue between actors to maximise the impact of development projects. The lessons learned from the PEM N’Zassa and MIGRET projects provide a solid basis for guiding future actions related to human mobility as a catalyst for growth and development,” emphasises Raffaella Greco Tonegutti, Coordinator of Enabel’s Human Mobility team.

Continuing a shared dynamic

The participants made several recommendations to consolidate achievements, ensure the sustainability of results and integrate good practices into national policies and mechanisms. This initiative reaffirms the commitment of stakeholders to promoting concerted governance and continuous learning in the service of inclusive and sustainable development.