Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau joined officials from Côte d’Ivoire and the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) to sign the Côte d’Ivoire Regional Energy Compact at the U.S. Department of State. The compact represents a significant U.S. investment aimed at strengthening Côte d’Ivoire’s energy sector and promoting regional power integration across West Africa. By expanding access to reliable electricity, the initiative seeks to lower energy costs for households and businesses, stimulate private sector growth, facilitate cross-border trade, and create opportunities for American companies, supporting U.S. jobs in the process.
Deputy Secretary Landau emphasized that the compact reflects the U.S. commitment to smart, accountable development that advances American interests. He noted that a stronger energy sector in West Africa not only benefits local economies but also generates new markets for U.S. businesses and contributes to regional stability.
The compact builds on MCC’s prior work in Côte d’Ivoire, where a 2017 agreement invested over $500 million in improving education and transportation infrastructure, including upgrading critical road networks and modernizing vocational training centers. MCC Acting Vice President for Compact Operations Jason Small highlighted that modernizing Côte d’Ivoire’s electricity sector and connecting the region will boost economic growth, benefit U.S. businesses operating locally, and open additional trade opportunities across West Africa.
The Millennium Challenge Corporation is an independent U.S. government agency that advances America’s economic and strategic interests through results-driven foreign assistance. Its investments focus on infrastructure development, strategic reforms, and economic modernization that deliver measurable returns, benefiting both partner countries and U.S. taxpayers by expanding commercial opportunities and reinforcing global environments aligned with U.S. priorities.
