Dr. Fagama Klo

Director General of the Tourism and Hotel Industry

Dr. Fagama Klo is the director general of the Tourism and Hospitality Industry within the Ministry of Tourism and Leisure for the Côte d’Ivoire.

In this role, he implements government policies to promote Ivorian tourism and develop the country’s hospitality industry. Under Dr. Klo’s direction, the organization has promoted the country’s tourism development project “Sublime Côte d’Ivoire,” established the Daoukro Higher School of Tourism and Hospitality and worked to enhance the skills of tourist guides and evaluate accommodation facilities.

Dr. Klo has also emphasized consolidating national and regional tourism circuits to promote Côte d’Ivoire as a tourist destination by highlighting iconic cultural, natural and heritage sites.

Ambassador Mathieu Toure

Deputy Ambassador.

Mathieu Touré has been serving as the deputy ambassador and minister counselor at the Embassy of the Republic of the Côte d’Ivoire since February 2024.

Bringing more than two decades of experience in international relations and diplomacy, he is committed to advancing peace, security and sustainable development for his country and advancing its visibility on the global stage.

Prior to his current role, he held the position of first counselor at Côte d’Ivoire’s embassies in Morocco and the U.S. He served as deputy director for West Africa at the Directorate for Africa and was a member of the United Nations Security Council. Over the years, he’s actively participated in numerous high-level seminars, including discussions of performance-based management in public administration and emergency response training for the Economic Community of West African States.

Touré graduated from the National School of Administration in Côte d’Ivoire with a specialization in diplomacy and holds a master’s degree in public law from the University of Bouaké. He was honored as a Knight of the National Order in 2016 and he was promoted to the rank of Ambassador in 2023.

Recently, he helped draft and present the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Ms. Fatoumata Komah

Director of the External Services

Fatoumata Komah is the director of external services for Côte d’Ivoire’s Ministry of Tourism and Leisure, playing a strategic role in the development of Ivorian tourism on an international scale.

In her role, she focuses on key missions to strengthen the country’s visibility. She has successfully overseen and coordinated with Côte d’Ivoire’s representation offices abroad and engaged with global partners including travel agencies, tour operators and media companies.

Komah places particular emphasis on the cultural and natural diversity of Côte d’Ivoire, developing projects aimed at promoting eco-tourism circuits and heritage sites and strengthening ties with the Ivorian diaspora. She has an ambitious vision for Ivorian tourism and encourages sustainable development within the sector.

Paul Cohen

co-founder of ieLimited and International Experiences

Paul Cohen is the co-founder of ieLimited and International Experiences, a leading international travel and trade consultancy, and custom tour operator providing a range of destination management and market services to government and commercial sectors globally.

Bringing more than 35 years of experience in global travel and tourism, Cohen has a distinguished career of working with tourism marketing organizations, travel suppliers and corporate partners to drive tourism arrivals, spend and investment to dozens of destinations around the globe.

Prior to his current role, he served as vice president of PHG Consulting, a division of the Preferred Hospitality Group. Preceding that he co-founded Partner Concepts to strategize, develop and implement custom integrated marketing programs for tourism organizations around the world.

He served as vice chair of the Corporate Council on African Tourism Committee and worked with the U.S. Department of Commerce and the China National Tourism Administration on the historic memorandum of understanding regarding the two-way tourism between the U.S. and China. He is currently the international marketing consultant to the China Tourism Branding & Marketing Alliance (CTBMA), part of the China National Tourism Administration, and is a board member of the China Outbound Tourism Research Institute (COTRI).

Cohen obtained a B.S. in international business from SUNY Brockport and participated in the Executive MBA program at the University of Rochester’s Simon Business School.

Johanne Gnagne

The founder and CEO of Klaman & Co

Johanne Gnagne is the founder and CEO of Klaman & Co, a California-based platform dedicated to celebrating African cultural heritage through events and programs that foster global appreciation and economic opportunities.

Raised in Montreal, Gnagne’s multicultural upbringing has fueled her passion for her roots and her mission to position Côte d’Ivoire as a leading destination for tourism and investment in Africa.

As CEO, she has spearheaded high-profile cultural initiatives, including the Klaman Africa Vibe Festival and collaborations with the San Diego Tourism Authority. She has also forged partnerships with organizations and stakeholders to enhance African tourism, cultural exchange, and global business connections, driving international trade, tourism and investment opportunities.

Outside her role in Klaman & Co, Gnagne is actively involved in her community as Parent Teacher Organization director, liaison director for ELAC and coordinator of a Christian non-profit.

Mariam Ouattara

Director of Tourism Office

Eric Ham

Moderator

Eric Ham is a bestselling author, columnist and anchor. For the last decade he has served as a highly sought after journalist and analyst covering the White House, Congress and U.S. presidential elections.

Eric Ham builded his career through working for some of the most respected media outlets around the world. He has reported on the biggest political stories shaping both sides of Pennsylvania Avenue. He is now at the forefront of coverage serving as a White House correspondent for the Associated Press, on-air political analyst for the BBC and a political columnist for Canada’s CTV.

Prior to his work as a journalist, Ham worked in the U.S. Congress as a staffer for former Senator Bill Nelson. He led the government relations outreach for the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). He also was the chair of the Security and Development Work Group for the Society for International Development and co-chaired the Fragile State Strategy Group.

Currently, Eric Ham anchors First Post America, a daily digital news program reporting on the latest news and headlines from the United States and around the world. He’s a graduate of the University of Michigan and the University of Chicago, and he lives in Washington, DC.

Victor Shiblie

The Washington Diplomat

Victor Shiblie has been the publisher of The Washington Diplomat for nearly three decades, covering Washington’s diplomatic community for more than 200,000 readers and 180 foreign missions, plus newsmakers in the White House, the Capitol, State Department and more.

Shiblie helps produce events for the international community ranging from health, education, tourism and economic development.

Presently, he is a founder and board member of WECAA, Washington’s non-profit organization for the professional development education and cultural attachés.

Shiblie has a deep understanding of the Middle East and often advises U.S. executives on the region. He is fluent in English and speaks conversational Arabic.