H.E. Françoise Remarck

H.E. Françoise Remarck  

H.E. Françoise Remarck is the Minister of Culture and Francophonie of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire since April 2022 and serves as Vice-President of the Conference of Ministers of La Francophonie. She is also the first elected Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of the Foundation of the Félix Houphouët-Boigny National Polytechnic Institute (INPHB).

A graduate of the Abidjan Higher School of Commerce (ESCA), H.E. Françoise Remarck also holds an Executive MBA from HEC Paris. With nearly 40 years of professional experience across Africa and internationally, she has built a distinguished career spanning both the private and public sectors.

H.E. Françoise Remarck began her professional journey with Ernst & Young in Paris before returning to Côte d’Ivoire in 1992. Upon her return, she played a founding role in the establishment of Canal+ Côte d’Ivoire, where she rose to become Chairwoman and Chief Executive Officer. She later served as Director of Communication and Institutional Relations for Canal+ Africa and subsequently as Vice-President of the CFAO Group in charge of Institutional Relations and Communication.

Throughout her career, H.E. Françoise Remarck has chaired and served on several Boards of Directors in the banking, insurance, and services sectors. She has also remained deeply committed to youth empowerment and the promotion of African entrepreneurship.

Since her appointment as Minister in 2022, H.E. Françoise Remarck has led a dynamic cultural renewal in Côte d’Ivoire, overseeing the expansion of museum infrastructure, the development of digital cultural laboratories, the strengthening of creative industries, and the implementation of heritage preservation initiatives under the National Cultural Policy of President Alassane Ouattara.

She has played an active role in advancing Côte d’Ivoire’s cultural diplomacy on the international stage, contributing to the inscription of Ivorian cultural expressions on UNESCO heritage lists. In October 2025, H.E. Françoise Remarck represented President Ouattara at the inauguration of the Grand Egyptian Museum in Cairo, the world’s largest archaeological museum, where she engaged with leading international cultural figures and reinforced Côte d’Ivoire’s presence within the global heritage community.

Under her leadership, Côte d’Ivoire achieved the historic restitution of the Djidji Ayokwè talking drum on March 13, 2026, marking the country’s first restituted cultural property after years of diplomatic engagement with France. The process has since gained international recognition as a model for cultural cooperation and heritage dialogue.

In May 2026, H.E. Françoise Remarck presented Côte d’Ivoire’s vision on cultural restitution and cultural diplomacy at the Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi before African and international decision-makers, including Emmanuel Macron. During the summit, she highlighted the role of culture as a catalyst for inclusive development, international cooperation, and sustainable partnerships.

For her distinguished contributions, H.E. Françoise Remarck has been honored as Commander of the National Order of Côte d’Ivoire and Commander of the Sectoral Order of Merit in Communication, Culture, and Public Service. She is regularly recognized among the 100 most influential personalities in Côte d’Ivoire, across Africa, and among influential figures of the 21st century. H.E. Françoise Remarck is married, the mother of three children and she is the happy grandmother of three grandchildren.