Press Releases: Deputy Secretary of State John J. Sullivan at Signing of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Compact With the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire


Notice to the Press

Office of the Spokesperson

Washington, DC

November 6, 2017


Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan and Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Acting CEO Jonathan Nash will welcome President of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire Alassane Ouattara at the U.S. Department of State for the signing of a new $525 million MCC compact with the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire on Tuesday, November 7, 2017, at 10:00 a.m.

The ceremony will formalize MCC’s Côte d’Ivoire Compact, which will spur economic growth and private investment to reduce poverty and support regional stability in West Africa. MCC’s investments in Côte d’Ivoire support building workforce capacity by expanding access to secondary education and training, and improving the transportation infrastructure to facilitate trade and open new markets for goods. The Government of Côte d’Ivoire is expected to contribute an additional $22 million to support the compact.

Compacts are MCC’s largest grants, and country partners are chosen through a competitive selection process among the best-governed poor countries.

The ceremony will be open to the press.

Pre-set time for cameras: 9:15 a.m. from the 23rd Street entrance.
Final access time for writers and still photographers: 9:45 a.m. from the 23rd street entrance.

Media representatives may attend this briefing upon presentation of one of the following: (1) a U.S. Government-issued identification card (Department of State, White House, Congress, Department of Defense, or Foreign Press Center), (2) a media-issued photo identification card, or (3) a letter from their employer on letterhead verifying their employment as a journalist, accompanied by an official photo identification (driver’s license or passport).

For further information about access to the event please contact the Department of State Office of Press Relations at (202) 647-2492. Media with further questions about the signing ceremony may contact Laura Allen at AllenLM@mcc.gov.

NOTE: MCC Acting CEO Jonathan Nash will be available for interviews following the ceremony. Media interested should contact Pam Stevens at StevensPR@mcc.gov.