Late Payments in Côte d’Ivoire: CCESP Seeks to End the “Forced Credit” Imposed on SMEs

On October 29, 2026, the CCESP presented a study on intercompany payment terms in Côte d’Ivoire at the Novotel Abidjan Plateau, with support from Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). Late payments force SMEs to finance their clients while continuing to pay employees, suppliers, and taxes. The study proposes a reform combining sector-specific payment limits, penalties, incentives, and oversight mechanisms. CPU-PME president Dr. Moussa Élias Farakhan Diomandé calls SMEs “the cheapest bank in Côte d’Ivoire” when they extend payment terms without interest or guarantees; the proposed reform aims to restore their cash flow and protect their ability to invest and create jobs.