AGP Executive Report

Digital Infrastructure Deal: Vertiv signed an MoU with Cybastion to accelerate digital transformation across Northwest Africa, targeting Morocco, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Chad and Gabon, with Vertiv bringing data-centre power/cooling expertise and Cybastion leveraging government-led digital programmes. Regulatory & Markets: Côte d’Ivoire’s government is moving ahead with Meta monetization for local creators, positioning the country as a Francophone African pioneer in state-facilitated access to global platform revenues. Energy & Consumer Prices: Côte d’Ivoire maintained butane gas subsidies nationwide for October 2026, fixing 6kg at 2,000 FCFA and setting official prices for larger formats and fuel products. Trade & Mobility: ECOWAS is pushing public sensitization for its biometric ID (ENBIC) to speed mutual border acceptance by December 2026, supporting smoother travel and trade across the region. Finance: Bank of Africa Côte d’Ivoire reported a slight 1.5% rise in net banking income in the first half of 2026. Mining & Projects: Toubani Resources says construction is advancing at the Kobada Gold Project in Côte d’Ivoire, with CIL tank erection underway and first gold targeted for Q3 2027.

Côte d’Ivoire Digital Economy: Côte d’Ivoire is moving to monetize Facebook and Instagram content through a structured process with Meta, a rare Francophone African push that puts the state in the role of facilitator for local creators to access global platform revenues. Telecom & Regulation: ARTCI is in Douala, Cameroon, for an ITU-led workshop on digital regulation to upgrade oversight skills as Côte d’Ivoire accelerates digital transformation. Energy & Prices: The Ivorian government keeps butane subsidies nationwide for October 2026, fixing 6kg at 2,000 FCFA and setting official retail prices for larger formats and fuels, with enforcement via required price displays. Banking: BOA Côte d’Ivoire reports a slight 1.5% rise in net banking income in the first half of 2026. Mining & Investment Pipeline: Toubani Resources says construction is advancing fast on the Kobada Gold Project, with CIL tank erection underway, long-lead equipment shipped, and over 900 workers on site, targeting first gold in Q3 2027. Business & Trade Tech: Vertiv signs an MoU with Cybastion to support digital infrastructure rollouts across Northwest Africa, including Côte d’Ivoire.

Digital Infrastructure & Data Centers: Vertiv signed an MoU with U.S. firm Cybastion to accelerate critical digital infrastructure projects across Northwest Africa, including Ivory Coast, with a focus on power/cooling solutions for government-led digitalisation. Telecom & Regulation: Côte d’Ivoire’s ARTCI joined a regional workshop in Cameroon to strengthen digital regulation skills with ITU and partners. Banking: BOA Côte d’Ivoire reported a slight 1.5% rise in net banking income in the first half of 2026. Energy & Prices: Côte d’Ivoire maintained October 2026 butane gas subsidies nationwide, keeping 6kg at 2,000 FCFA, alongside published fuel and industrial butane bulk tariffs. Housing: The government launched 420 social and economic housing units in Yamoussoukro under an emergency push, as urban housing needs are estimated at 827,753 units by 2030. SME Tech: NativeTalk launched an all-in-one business communication app for African SMEs, aiming to reduce fragmented customer messaging across channels. Trade & Logistics: Cotonou port transit remains resilient despite regional shocks, with Burkina Faso driving rising cargo volumes.

Mobile Infrastructure Deal: MTN says it has cleared key regulatory hurdles to acquire IHS, with South Africa’s Competition Commission recommending approval with conditions and Nigeria’s regulators granting conditional go-ahead, including a requirement to sell up to 30% of IHS’s Nigerian business to local investors over time. Digital Regulation Capacity: Côte d’Ivoire’s ARTCI is strengthening its digital oversight skills at a regional workshop in Douala, Cameroon, organised with the ITU and partners, to improve regulatory practices for the country’s digital transformation. Housing & Urban Demand: Côte d’Ivoire estimates urban housing needs at 827,753 units by 2030 and reports a new Yamoussoukro project launching 420 social and economic units under a 25,000-unit emergency programme, with construction cost above 13.5bn CFA and a 36-month delivery target. Cocoa & Climate-Smart Farming: Barry Callebaut is rolling out Assisted Natural Regeneration in Ivory Coast, aiming to protect naturally regenerating trees alongside targeted planting to build more resilient cocoa landscapes. Regional Trade & Borders: Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire jointly commissioned 37 new boundary pillars as part of a land boundary reaffirmation exercise, funded by GIZ and the African Union Border Programme. Energy/Finance Context: A wider West Africa climate-financing update says the Green Climate Fund has unlocked over US$4bn more for climate investments, with Africa expected to receive about 40%.

Oil & Gas Outlook: The Rio Oil & Gas (ROG.e 2026) conference in Brazil (starting 21 Sept) is drawing top executives from Petrobras, TotalEnergies, Shell, BP, and others—signalling continued global focus on deepwater projects and supply-chain innovation. Digital Regulation: Côte d’Ivoire’s telecom regulator ARTCI is in Douala, Cameroon for an ITU-backed workshop to sharpen digital regulation skills and improve oversight as the country’s digital transformation accelerates. Cocoa & Climate-Smart Farming: Barry Callebaut is testing Assisted Natural Regeneration in Ivory Coast, blending protection of naturally regenerating trees with targeted planting to build more resilient cocoa landscapes amid deforestation pressures. Housing Demand: Ivory Coast estimates urban housing needs at 827,753 units by 2030 and launched 420 social/economic units in Yamoussoukro under a 25,000-unit emergency programme. Regional Trade & Borders: Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire commissioned 37 new boundary pillars, completing Phase One of a 150km land boundary reaffirmation exercise. Business & Sports Finance: PSG reportedly paid €3.3m for a “right of preference” tied to Ivory Coast midfielder Mario Dorgeles, securing priority in a future sale.

Digital Regulation: Côte d’Ivoire’s ARTCI is in Douala, Cameroon for an ITU-led workshop to sharpen digital regulation skills and share oversight practices as the country pushes its digital transformation. Housing & Urban Growth: In Yamoussoukro, the government says urban housing demand could hit 827,753 units by 2030, while it has launched 420 social and economic units under a 25,000-unit emergency program, with delivery targeted in 36 months. Cocoa & Climate-Smart Farming: Barry Callebaut is testing Assisted Natural Regeneration in Ivory Coast, aiming to combine naturally regenerating trees with targeted planting to build more resilient cocoa landscapes. Agro-Industry Investment: PSG reportedly paid €3.3m to Braga for a “right of preference” tied to Ivory Coast midfielder Dorgeles—priority in a future sale rather than an immediate signing. Regional Trade & Finance: BCEAO has published an updated list of 175 participants authorized to open PI-SPI services to the public as of September 30, 2026.

Digital Regulation: Côte d’Ivoire’s telecom regulator ARTCI is strengthening its digital oversight skills at an ITU-led regional workshop in Douala, Cameroon, to better manage the country’s digital transformation. Housing & Urban Demand: The government estimates urban housing needs at 827,753 units by 2030 and says a 13.5 billion CFA social and economic housing project—420 units in Yamoussoukro—has started, with a 36-month delivery target. Payments Infrastructure: BCEAO has published an updated list of 175 authorized participants for PI-SPI interoperable instant payments, with Ivory Coast listed among the active markets. Telecom Operations: Orange Côte d’Ivoire certified 42 technicians as drone remote pilots after 1,000 hours of field training to improve network inspections and reduce outages. Cocoa & Climate-Smart Farming: Barry Callebaut is advancing assisted natural regeneration in Ivory Coast, combining naturally regenerating trees with targeted planting to build more resilient cocoa landscapes. Regional Business & Trade: NCBA says it is targeting Ethiopia and the DRC for expansion, prioritizing acquisitions over new builds.

BCEAO Payments Rollout: The West African central bank (BCEAO) has published a new list of 175 authorized participants for PI-SPI interoperable instant payments, with Ivory Coast leading the expansion among member states via Orange Money, Wave, MTN Money, Moov Money and more—opening the door for banks, e-money firms and fintechs to connect faster across the UEMOA market. Telecom Skills Upgrade: Orange Côte d’Ivoire certified 42 technicians as drone remote pilots after 1,000 hours of field training, aiming to improve network inspection safety and reduce outages through better maintenance planning. Mining Output Milestone: Montage Gold says its Koné mine in Côte d’Ivoire has poured first gold on budget and ahead of schedule, with early production ramp-up supported by investments in ports, roads and power. Regional Trade & Energy Lens: A new commentary highlights how African private capital can accelerate energy transformation, using Dangote’s industrial push as an example of turning savings into reliable infrastructure and jobs. Cross-border Diplomacy: Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire jointly commissioned 37 new boundary pillars, reinforcing the land and maritime boundary reaffirmation process supervised by Ghana’s Boundary Commission. Business-Adjacent Culture: Tayc announced an Africa Tour 2026 stop in Abidjan (Oct 11), boosting local event activity and tourism demand.

Payments & Fintech: BCEAO has published the latest list of 175 institutions authorized to offer interoperable instant payments (PI-SPI) across the West African Economic and Monetary Union, with Ivory Coast leading the pack among non-Senegal markets (38 participants). Telecom & Infrastructure: Orange Côte d’Ivoire certified 42 technicians as drone remote pilots after 1,000 hours of training, aiming for safer inspections and fewer network outages. Transport & Urban Mobility: Africa Global Logistics Côte d’Ivoire moved five heavy railway locomotives (332.28 tonnes) for Abidjan Metro Line 1, from the Port of Abidjan to the Abobo Sagbé receiving site. Mining & Investment: Montage Gold says its Koné mine in Côte d’Ivoire has achieved first gold pour ahead of schedule and on budget, supported by early infrastructure and workforce training. Trade & Regional Integration: Abidjan is reopening dialogue with Sahel partners, including customs easing for transit goods from Mali and Burkina Faso, as diplomacy shifts toward pragmatism. Business & Culture Linkages: Bombo Investments is partnering with Africa Monologue Challenge to turn cultural exchange into practical intra-African trade and tourism connections.

Mining & Finance: Glencore signed a five-year offtake and pre-financing deal with Guinea’s state Nimba Mining Company, with $300m upfront and 10–12m tons of bauxite annually—another signal of investor appetite for West Africa’s minerals. Telecom & Infrastructure Skills: Orange Côte d’Ivoire certified 42 technicians as drone remote pilots after 1,000 hours of training, aiming to improve network maintenance safety and reduce outages. Urban Mobility Logistics: AGL Côte d’Ivoire transported five heavy locomotives (332.28 tons) for Abidjan Metro Line 1, coordinating port unloading, rail placement, and safety/escort operations. Energy/Trade Finance: Ivory Coast raised 110bn CFA francs on the UMOA financial market, underscoring active domestic funding. Regional Business & Payments: BCEAO published the expanded list of 175 authorized institutions to open PI-SPI interoperable instant payments, including major mobile money players in Ivory Coast. Mining Output: Montage Gold said its Koné mine in Côte d’Ivoire achieved first gold pour on budget and ahead of schedule, with resources and infrastructure investments supporting ramp-up. Governance & Compliance: Ivory Coast also moved to clamp down on harmful illegal gold rushes, warning against complicity and tightening enforcement.

BCEAO Payments Push: The BCEAO has published the updated list of 175 authorized participants to open PI-SPI interoperable instant payment services, with Ivory Coast leading at 38 institutions alongside Orange Money, Wave, MTN Money and other fintechs. Telecom Skills Upgrade: Orange Côte d’Ivoire certified 42 technicians as drone remote pilots after 1,000 hours of field training, aiming for safer inspections and fewer network outages. Mining & Production: Montage Gold says its Koné mine in Côte d’Ivoire has achieved first gold pour on budget and ahead of schedule, with early ramp-up supported by port, road and power investments. Metro Logistics: AGL Côte d’Ivoire transported five heavy locomotives (332.28 tonnes) for Abidjan Metro Line 1, moving them from the Port of Abidjan to the Abobo Sagbé receiving site. Regional Peace Talks: The Entente Council and UNOWAS signed a three-year cooperation deal in Abidjan to strengthen peacebuilding, preventive diplomacy and border resilience across West Africa and the Sahel. Cocoa Watch: Cocoa futures fell sharply as the dollar strengthened and Ivory Coast port shipments rose, adding pressure on prices. Trade & Diplomacy: Abidjan and the AES space reopened dialogue amid measured gestures, including customs easing for transit goods.

Telecom & Skills: Orange Côte d’Ivoire certified 42 technicians as drone remote pilots after 1,000 hours of field training, aiming to make network inspections safer and more reliable and to better anticipate maintenance to prevent service outages. Mining & Investment: Montage Gold said its Koné mine in Côte d’Ivoire reached first gold pour on budget and ahead of schedule, moving from construction to production; the plan targets about 350,000 ounces annually in early years, with resources now cited at 8.3 million ounces. Infrastructure & Urban Mobility: AGL Côte d’Ivoire transported five heavy locomotives (332.28 tonnes) from the Port of Abidjan to the Abobo Sagbé receiving site for Abidjan Metro Line 1, including port handling, hydraulic trailers, safety checks and escorted transport. Regional Diplomacy: Ivory Coast is reopening dialogue with the AES space, including a customs easing measure removing visa requirements for customs representations from Mali and Burkina Faso on transit declarations. Finance: Ivory Coast raised 110 billion CFA francs on the UMOA financial market via treasury bond auctions. Trade & Security Context: A report on Mali’s fuel convoy under escort highlights how attacks on key supply routes affect regional trade flows that also involve Ivory Coast-linked corridors. Energy/Tech Cooperation: The UAE Space Agency signed agreements with African partners during an Abidjan expo to expand Earth observation, satellite data, capacity building and space innovation. Cocoa Markets: Cocoa prices fell on dollar strength and signs of ample supply, with Ivory Coast port shipments reported up year-on-year.

Mining & Finance: Montage Gold says its Koné mine in Côte d’Ivoire has poured first gold ahead of schedule and on budget, with annual output projected at ~350,000 ounces in early years and resources now put at 8.3 million ounces. Fiscal Policy: Côte d’Ivoire raised 110 billion CFA francs on the UMOA financial market via Treasury bond auctions (364 days and 3/5/7-year maturities). Illegal Gold Crackdown: Authorities moved to shut down illegal artisanal gold sites, warning of up to 20-year prison terms and targeting complicity as the sector fuels environmental damage and armed-group financing. Infrastructure & Transport: AGL Côte d’Ivoire transported five heavy locomotives (332.28 tonnes) for Abidjan Metro Line 1, from the Port of Abidjan to the Abobo Sagbé receiving site. Regional Trade & Security: Abidjan is reopening dialogue with the AES space, including customs easing for transit from Mali and Burkina Faso, while differences remain. Cocoa Markets: Cocoa prices fell on dollar strength and signs of ample supply, with Ivory Coast port shipments reported up year-on-year. Business & Industry: Midea Building Technologies reaffirmed its West Africa push through partner planning in Ghana, including Côte d’Ivoire.

Cocoa Market: Cocoa futures slid sharply as the dollar strengthened and Ivory Coast shipments rose, with farmers sending 2.18 million tonnes to ports (+19.8%) and inventories hitting a 2.25-year high—pressuring prices despite earlier weather-related harvest worries. Mining & Investment: Montage Gold says it has poured first gold at its Koné mine in Côte d’Ivoire (about 1,140 ounces), ahead of schedule, after processing 400,000+ tonnes of ore; the ramp-up targets commercial output from the oxide circuit before year-end. Gold Exploration: Kobo Resources reported new Kossou drilling results in Côte d’Ivoire, including 19.0m at 1.94 g/t Au at the Road Cut Zone, extending the gold system northward. Sovereignty & Migration: Côte d’Ivoire rejected a US proposal to accept “third-country” deportees who are not Ivorian citizens, fueling debate on national sovereignty in global migration policy. Telecom & Regulation: Abidjan is set for a major public discussion on radio frequency management, with the AIGF scheduled to brief citizens and operators on spectrum control and interference-free use. Regional Business & Finance: AFAWA kicked off a Côte d’Ivoire-focused learning event on improving women entrepreneurs’ access to finance, including digital finance and market access. Sports & Economy: Black Stars coach Carlos Queiroz says Ghana has 22 players ready for a 2027 AFCON qualifier vs The Gambia, framing the match as a “win or learn” response to recent struggles.

Mining & Jobs: Montage Gold says it has achieved first gold pour at its Koné mine in Côte d’Ivoire, producing about 1,140 ounces on Sept. 26—on budget and ahead of schedule—after processing 400,000+ tonnes of ore and ramping up the oxide circuit; the project is set to create around 3,600 direct jobs so far (95% nationals) and target commercial production from the oxide circuit by end-2026. Cocoa Trade & Traceability: Côte d’Ivoire’s cocoa traceability system logged 50,085 tons in the first two weeks of the 2026-2027 campaign, with port receipts up 51.6% year-on-year, as the country pushes toward fully traceable, origin-compliant supply for international buyers. Telecom Regulation: Côte d’Ivoire’s AIGF will hold a public press conference on radio frequency management on Sept. 29, outlining how spectrum is assigned, monitored, and secured—key for mobile networks and broadcast stability. Women & Finance: The AfDB’s AFAWA initiative is running a four-day learning event in Côte d’Ivoire focused on improving women entrepreneurs’ access to finance, including digital finance and market access. Regional Water Security: ECOWAS, UEMOA and CILSS adopted the Abidjan Declaration at a regional water forum, aiming to strengthen shared river governance and climate-resilient water planning across West Africa.

Mining & Jobs: Montage Gold says it has achieved first gold pour at its Koné mine in Côte d’Ivoire, producing about 1,140 ounces on September 26—on budget and months ahead of schedule—after early oxide-circuit ramp-up; the project has created around 3,600 direct jobs (95% Ivorian) and targets commercial production from the oxide circuit before year-end. Cocoa Trade & Traceability: Côte d’Ivoire’s cocoa traceability system logged 50,085 tons in the first two weeks of the 2026-2027 campaign, with port receipts up 51.6% year-on-year, as exporters and cooperatives push toward fully traceable, origin-compliant supply. Telecom & Digital Economy: Côte d’Ivoire’s AIGF is set to brief the public on radio frequency management ahead of a September 29 tribune, focusing on allocation, interference monitoring, and future spectrum roadmaps—key for mobile money and broadcast reliability. Regional Water Security: ECOWAS, UEMOA and CILSS adopted a shared agenda at a forum in Abidjan to strengthen transboundary water governance, climate resilience and financing. Women & Youth Finance: AfDB’s AFAWA kicked off a four-day learning event in Côte d’Ivoire to improve women entrepreneurs’ access to finance, including digital finance and market access. Migration Policy: Côte d’Ivoire rejected a US proposal to accept “third-country” deportees, reigniting debate on sovereignty and regional migration arrangements. Business Climate Watch: New analysis warns climate aid is often delivered as loans, adding to public debt for the poorest countries.