A major highway expansion project in Ivory Coast backed by a US$235 million loan from the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) is expected to improve trade flows between the West African nation and neighbouring Mali, reinforcing one of the region’s most important transport corridors.
The financing agreement, signed on June 19 in Baku, will support the construction of a key section of the Northern Highway linking Tafiré and Ferkessédougou in northern Ivory Coast.
Valued at approximately 130 billion CFA francs (US$225 million), the project covers a stretch of around 60 kilometres and forms part of a broader transport network connecting the port city of Abidjan to the borders of Burkina Faso and Mali.
According to project documents, construction will be divided into two segments: the Tafiré-Kouroukouna section and the Kouroukouna-Ferkessédougou section.
The development is seen as strategically important not only for Ivory Coast but also for Mali, a landlocked country that depends heavily on transport corridors linking the Sahel to coastal ports for international trade.
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For Malian businesses, the Abidjan corridor serves as a critical route for imports including fuel, food products, construction materials, agricultural inputs, industrial equipment and spare parts.
The highway upgrade comes amid growing competition among major West African transport corridors, where infrastructure quality, logistics efficiency and security increasingly influence trade flows.
Regional governments have been investing in roads, railways, logistics hubs and border facilities to attract transit traffic and strengthen their positions as gateways to inland markets.
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Ivory Coast has sought to consolidate the role of Abidjan as a leading maritime gateway for Sahelian countries, while Mali continues to evaluate multiple trade routes through ports including Abidjan, Dakar, Conakry, Lomé, Tema and Nouakchott.
The importance of reliable transport infrastructure has grown in recent years as security challenges in parts of the Sahel have disrupted supply chains and increased logistical risks.
For traders and transport operators, decisions about shipping routes now depend not only on port access but also on factors such as road safety, customs efficiency, border processing times, cargo security and overall transport costs.
The Port of Abidjan has reported a significant recovery in transit traffic destined for inland countries.
According to port data, freight volumes bound for Mali and Burkina Faso reached 3.92 million tonnes in 2025, representing a 34.1 percent increase from the previous year.
Cargo destined specifically for Mali rose by 76.4 percent, increasing from 835,216 tonnes in 2024 to 1.47 million tonnes in 2025.
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The figures reflect growing confidence among transport operators and importers in the Ivorian corridor.
Efforts to improve regional logistics have also expanded beyond road infrastructure.
In April 2026, Africa Global Logistics launched a multimodal transport corridor linking Abidjan, Bobo-Dioulasso and Bamako.
The system combines rail transport through Burkina Faso with road transport into Mali, supported by the Bobo-Dioulasso dry port and cargo escort services aimed at improving supply chain security and traceability.
Analysts say the Northern Highway extension could further strengthen trade links between the Port of Abidjan, northern Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso and Mali by reducing travel times and improving transport reliability.
The long-term success of the project, however, will depend on its ability to improve logistics performance, reduce delays, enhance cargo security and lower transportation costs for businesses operating across the corridor.
If achieved, the investment could reinforce Abidjan’s position as a key trade gateway for the Sahel while supporting economic integration across West Africa.
