1988 Laurent Gbagbo returns home from Paris when the government seeks to make amends with its opponents. Allassane Ouattara begins to play a leading role in the financial and economic planning affairs of the government. He is a well-respected technocrat with an IMF background. A new standby agreement for SDR94 million and another SDR83 million in compensatory financing from the IMF collapses when the government falls behind in debt repayments to the London and Paris Clubs. A new industrial development strategy is adopted stressing the modernization of industry, the promotion of export-oriented industries which process local raw materials, and the creation of new high value added manufacturing industries.
Government announces it is abandoning plans to reach cocoa production of one million tons per year.
As the world's largest producer it stockpiles cocoa in an effort to drive up prices. Large scale block sales are negotiated with the world's largest buyers rather than release cocoa onto the world market. London Club rescheduling. A recovery program is announced. Another standby agreement from the IMF is reached for SDR175 million.