Today, Senior Advisor to the President Ivanka Trump and USAID Administrator Mark Green met with His Excellency Vice President of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire Daniel Kablan Duncan and other officials at the Presidential Palace.
Ms. Trump and Administrator Green gave their condolences for the passing of Louise Ouattara, President Alassane Ouattara’s daughter-in-law. The meeting focused on the importance of maintaining Côte d’Ivoire’s political and economic reform process, while strengthening efforts to ensure Ivoirians, especially women, are able to actively participate in, and benefit from, the country’s strong economy.
Vice President Duncan reaffirmed the Government of Cote d’Ivoire’s commitment to passing 20 out of 20 indicators on the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) scorecard by 2020, including indicators regarding girls' education and women's economic empowerment.
They discussed legal and cultural barriers to women’s economic empowerment in Côte d’Ivoire, and the work that remains to be done. Ivanka Trump reaffirmed the United States commitment to partner with Côte d’Ivoire to achieve these reforms. The two also discussed ways to boost trade between the two countries and the importance of cocoa and cashews to Côte d’Ivoire’s economy.
Ms. Trump and Administrator Green also joined the Ivoirian Minister of National Education and Technical Training, Mrs. Kandia Camara, as she signed an arrêté (Ministerial Order) for the operationalization of a new high-level gender unit within Côte d’Ivoire’s Ministry of Education.
They were accompanied for the signing ceremony by MCC Vice President Karen Sessions, U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Katherine Brucker, and Ivoirian officials including Secretary General of the Presidency Mr. Patrick Achi, Minister of Foreign Affairs Marcel Amon-Tanoh, and Minister Women, Family and Children Ramata Ly-Bakayoko.
The signing of the order and establishment of the Gender Unit is a key condition for unlocking funding under the $524.7 million Millennium Challenge Corporation Compact in Cote d'Ivoire.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of U.S. Embassy in Cote d'Ivoire.
