MOPAT Group, co-founded by Mouhamad Rassoul Dieng and Habyba Thiero, has joined Africa Currency Network (ACN) as a strategic partner in the development of the Grand-Bassam Artisans’ Village, a major new project designed to support Côte d’Ivoire’s artisans and transform the country’s living heritage into a platform for economic and cultural development.
On 8 July 2026 in Abidjan, the Government of Côte d’Ivoire, represented by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Handicrafts, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the National Steering Committee for Public-Private Partnerships (CNP-PPP) and ACN, formally launching the project’s development phase.
Estimated at between CFA 18 billion and CFA 20 billion (approximately $31.4 million to $34.8 million US Dollars) the project will be developed across a site of approximately 22,130 square metres and aims to support more than 600 artisans. Going beyond the traditional craft market model, the Village is envisioned as an integrated destination bringing together craftsmanship, living heritage, hospitality, gastronomy, tourism, events and the cultural and creative industries.
The project forms part of a broader economic dynamic. According to UNESCO, the cultural and creative industries account for 3.1% of global GDP and 6.2% of global employment. In Côte d’Ivoire, the 2026–2030 National Development Plan aims to increase the contribution of tourism and leisure to GDP from 8.6% in 2024 to 11% by 2030.
As ACN’s strategic partner, MOPAT Group will support the development phase of the project, contributing to its institutional, technical, legal, financial and operational structuring, as well as the mobilisation of relevant expertise and partners.
The Grand-Bassam Artisans’ Village demonstrates the potential of public-private collaboration to create sustainable projects that generate economic opportunity while preserving and promoting Africa’s cultural heritage. By placing artisans at the heart of a broader ecosystem encompassing tourism, hospitality and the creative economy, the project aims to create lasting value for local communities and the wider economy.