Chad has secured two-thirds of the funding needed for its five-year National Development Plan, ‘Chad Connection 2030,’ totaling $20.5 billion, through strategic partnerships established during the UAE–Chad Trade and Investment Forum in Abu Dhabi.

The forum, held in Abu Dhabi on November 10–11, marked the international launch of the ambitious plan, which aims to position Chad as an attractive destination for foreign direct investment, stimulate sustainable economic growth, and strengthen integration into global trade.

The government of Chad signed 40 memoranda of understanding with private sector firms across key sectors, including energy, agriculture, mining, textiles, tourism, education, and manufacturing, to support efforts to diversify the country’s economy.

In addition to these agreements, Chad secured financing commitments from 30 donor institutions and international financial organizations. These included the World Bank Group, the Islamic Development Bank, the African Development Bank Group, the Arab Bank for the Economic Development of Africa, and the African Export-Import Bank.

The two-day forum welcomed over 2,000 participants, including senior government officials, international investors, and business executives, who participated in high-level discussions aimed at strengthening economic ties.

During the event, the UAE Minister of Foreign Trade, Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, announced the completion of negotiation terms for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement between the UAE and Chad, which is expected to be finalized by the end of this year.

Speaking at the conclusion of the forum, Chad’s President Marshal Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno said: “I extend my sincere thanks to our partners who, according to announcements and portfolio commitments, will contribute to mobilising around $16.4 billion, in addition to private sector investors—mostly international—who signed 40 agreements and MoUs worth $4.1 billion.” He added: “Thus, in the first year of our five-year plan, Chad has successfully mobilised $20.5 billion, confirming that the goal of $30 billion is achievable. I call for the continued pursuit of reforms to reduce bureaucracy and significantly improve the business climate.”

The ‘Chad Connection 2030’ development framework is built on four strategic pillars and comprises 17 programs with 268 projects and reforms. It aims to drive long-term socio-economic transformation by focusing on infrastructure development, digital transformation, public sector modernization, and social inclusion.

Key objectives include expanding access to electricity and water, enhancing transport and digital networks, improving inland navigation, and strengthening public institutions to ensure better governance.

The plan also prioritizes social investment in education, youth development, health, vocational training, and employment to build human capital. It seeks to broaden the economic base through sectors such as agriculture, livestock, fisheries, hydrocarbons, and tourism under the “Made in Chad” initiative, while improving the investment climate and deploying economic diplomacy to attract further capital inflows.