Bouaké

Bouaké occupies a strategic position on the north–south road and rail corridor linking Abidjan with Burkina Faso, giving the city an important regional trade and service role. Its urban performance therefore depends on both local infrastructure and the efficiency of connections beyond the municipality.

The Infrastructure for Urban Development and Competitiveness of Second Cities Project treated Bouaké as a regional economic connector. Investment combined infrastructure with detailed urban planning, municipal capacity, local development planning and business-support services. This is important because competitiveness depends on more than corridor access alone. Streets, land use, markets and municipal services have to reinforce the city’s position within the wider transport network. Bouaké’s development strategy is therefore closely tied to converting regional connectivity into a better organised and more functional urban environment.