Queen Maxima visits Côte d'Ivoire & Senegal - Day 1
On Monday, Queen Maxima started a four-day trip to Côte d’Ivoire & Senegal in her role as United Nations Secretary Generals Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development. Queen Maxima touched down in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, on Sunday evening and was welcomed by Prime Minister Patrick Achi.
On Monday, Queen Maxima first attended a meeting with development partners at the UN office in Abidjan.
Afterward, Queen Maxima visited a Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA) in a suburb of Abidjan. These VSLA were formed to help members save money, access loans, and obtain emergency insurance.
The nonprofit organization CARE now helps these groups connect with formal financial institutions and it provides financial training as well. Queen Maxima met a group of 25 women part of a VSLA to hear more about the initiative and their experiences.
Queen Maxima also visited the Wi-Agris Digitial Platform and Casher Famers Cashew factory to learn more about how Wi-Agri's digital platform connects cashew farmers to buyers and financing.
In the afternoon, Queen Maxima took part in a roundtable on financial consumer protection hosted by the Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (CGAP) and Côte d’Ivoire’s Ministry of Economy and Finance.
Queen Maxima then attended the opening of the Africa CEO Forum which is the largest international meeting of the African private sector. Queen Maxima, in her role as UNSGSA, took part in a panel discussion about the importance of digital in financial inclusion.
For her arrival on Sunday, Queen Maxima wore a black suit with her Lanvin blouse and her Banana Republic shoes.
On Monday, Queen Maxima first wore a repeated outfit with Salvatore Ferragamo loafers and a Chanel bag. She was also seen wearing her Tom Ford glasses during meetings and wearing her Pomellato ring.
Queen Maxima then changed into her Alexis printed top & skirt which she paired with Natan pumps and her One & Only bag.
