ABD Group, a Philadelphia-based infrastructure developer and investor focused exclusively on Africa, has signed a new agreement with the Government of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire to develop and finance a pipeline of priority infrastructure projects exceeding €500 million. The agreement was signed on April 16, 2026, by H.E. Adama Coulibaly, Minister of Economy, Finance and Budget, and ABD Group CEO John Nevergole, in Washington, D.C. during a Corporate Council on Africa roundtable at the 2026 IMF and World Bank Spring Meetings, in the presence of U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce David Fogel.
The new agreement builds on more than €850 million in projects ABD Group has already developed, financed, and delivered in Côte d’Ivoire over its more than 15-year presence in the country, bringing its total project portfolio there to more than €1.4 billion. The new pipeline will target key sectors including water, healthcare, and education, aligned with Côte d’Ivoire’s National Development Plan and its objective of accelerating sustainable and inclusive economic growth.
The agreement was reached with support from the U.S. Government through the Technical Assistance for Bankable Infrastructure program and the U.S.-Côte d’Ivoire Commercial and Investment Partnership, both designed to advance U.S. private-sector engagement in the country. ABD Group’s activities in Côte d’Ivoire currently support more than 1,000 jobs across project sites nationwide. Founded in 2006, ABD Group has delivered more than $3 billion in infrastructure projects across Africa, spanning healthcare, education, water, energy, transport, and agriculture.
KEY QUOTES:
“This agreement reflects our long-term commitment to Côte d’Ivoire and our confidence in the country’s continued growth as an attractive and open market for U.S. companies. We appreciate the continued support of the U.S. Government, whose commercial engagement has been a key catalyst in advancing U.S. commercial efforts in Côte d’Ivoire.”
John Nevergole, CEO, ABD Group
“Together, we can make this partnership a powerful driver of economic development and improved living standards for our people.”
H.E. Adama Coulibaly, Minister of Economy, Finance and Budget, Côte d’Ivoire
“Collaborations of this nature are what we envisioned through the expanded U.S.-Côte d’Ivoire commercial engagement we’ve pursued under the U.S.-Côte d’Ivoire Commercial and Investment Partnership and the TABI initiative. This alignment of American private-sector initiative and expertise with the expressed priorities of Côte d’Ivoire will hopefully be a model of success we can build off and replicate across sectors.”
David Fogel, Assistant Secretary, U.S. Department of Commerce
“This agreement demonstrates how American companies deliver real results — creating opportunities for U.S. companies while supporting Côte d’Ivoire’s development. We commend John Nevergole and ABD Group for their long-term commitment and leadership in delivering high-impact infrastructure projects. By mobilizing private investment and strengthening essential infrastructure, we are advancing shared prosperity for both Americans and Ivorians.”
Junaid Munir, U.S. Chargé d’Affaires, Côte d’Ivoire
