AGP Executive Report

Cocoa Integrity & EU Compliance: A new Science study on Côte d’Ivoire cocoa farms says auditors altered records in about one in four monitoring cases for “sustainable” shade-tree programs, raising fresh concerns for EU Deforestation Regulation compliance. Telecom Growth: MTN Group reported strong H1 2026 results, with service revenue up 17.5% and growth in Ghana and Nigeria, while Côte d’Ivoire also contributed to subscriber momentum. Frontier Finance Outlook: Union Bancaire Privée’s emerging-markets team argues 2026 looks constructive for frontier and emerging market debt, highlighting local-currency opportunities amid global bond selloffs. Oil & Gas Services Contract: CB&I Asset Solutions won a three-year Côte d’Ivoire operations and maintenance contract for an offshore FPSO, including restart, integrity management and regulatory compliance. Parliament & Agriculture Links: Côte d’Ivoire National Assembly President Patrick Achi visited Vietnam National University of Agriculture, pushing deeper cooperation in agriculture, agro-processing and trade. Border Security Research: LASU and Nigeria’s Immigration Service convened a conference on connected borderlands, calling for tighter collaboration between researchers, policymakers and security agencies.

Parliament & Agriculture Diplomacy: Côte d’Ivoire’s National Assembly President Patrick Achi met Vietnam’s National University of Agriculture in Hanoi, praising Vietnam’s rice productivity, agro-processing and cooperative models, and urging Côte d’Ivoire to scale rice output and training. Telecom Growth: MTN Group reported strong H1 2026 results, with service revenue up 17.5% and growth in Ghana and Nigeria, alongside continued momentum in markets including Côte d’Ivoire. Cybersecurity Warning: Police urged Ivorians to “Stop. Check. Report.” after a sophisticated online investment scam, stressing verification before sharing money or personal details. Oil & Services Contract: CB&I Asset Solutions won a three-year operations and maintenance contract in Côte d’Ivoire for an offshore FPSO, citing local supply chain and integrity/regulatory compliance work. Cocoa & EU Rules Watch: Ivory Coast’s cocoa regulator says it is ready for new EU anti-deforestation rules, but exporters warn compliance systems could delay purchases and exports. Cocoa Farmers’ Living Income Push: Fairtrade Africa will convene cocoa stakeholders in Accra around 2026 living income reference prices for Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana, aiming to close the gap between farm-gate pay and household living costs. Business Talent Pipeline: UBA inducted 374 graduate professionals across Africa, including Ivory Coast, under its GMAP programme, highlighting service as a key differentiator as banking digitizes.

Ivory Coast–Ghana Business & Trade: Việt Nam’s National Assembly President Patrick Achi is set to visit Côte d’Ivoire (Aug 23–26) to deepen parliamentary cooperation and push economic and trade ties, building on 50 years of diplomatic relations. Cocoa & Farmer Incomes: A new look at Côte d’Ivoire’s cocoa belt shows why chocolate prices can rise while farmers still struggle—many producers report delayed or insufficient payments, and rising production costs keep living-income gaps wide. Cocoa Market Rules: Fairtrade Africa will convene cocoa stakeholders in Accra for Change Day 2026, using new 2026 living income reference prices for Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana to close the gap between farm-gate pay and household needs. Energy & Gas Deals: Panoro Energy signed an $80m deal with DNO to buy its indirect stake in four producing offshore gas fields in Côte d’Ivoire’s Block CI-27, targeting supply for the domestic market. Sports & Talent (Business angle): Real Madrid’s record-breaking signing of Ivorian winger Yan Diomandé (from Leipzig) highlights the growing global value of Côte d’Ivoire’s talent pipeline. Regional Finance & Integration: West Africa’s WAIIS summit is mobilising private capital, with leaders pushing for investment-led regional integration and job creation.

Real Madrid Deal for Ivorian Talent: Yan Diomandé, born in Abidjan, made his Real Madrid debut after signing a seven-year contract from RB Leipzig, with reports valuing the move at about €125m—making him the most expensive African player in history and a key piece of Mourinho’s new project. Cocoa Market Pressure in Côte d’Ivoire: Cocoa prices remain volatile and farmers say lower world prices haven’t improved their pay; coverage highlights Ivorians’ dependence on cocoa and the risk of supply disruption as EU anti-deforestation rules tighten. Fairtrade Africa Producer Push: Fairtrade Africa will convene cocoa stakeholders in Accra for Change Day 2026, using new living income reference prices for Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana to close the gap between farm-gate prices and household needs. Gas Deal Signals More Investment: Panoro Energy agreed to buy DNO’s indirect stake in four producing offshore gas fields in Côte d’Ivoire’s Block CI-27 for $80m, adding to the country’s growing E&P momentum. ECOWAS Data & Migration Work in Abidjan: ECOWAS is running workshops in Abidjan to improve migration statistics and harmonize macroeconomic data across member states.

Football & Talent Exports: Ivory Coast forward Yan Diomandé, 19, has become the most expensive African player after signing a seven-year deal with Real Madrid for about $144.3m, underscoring how Abidjan’s talent pipelines are turning into major business assets for European clubs. Cocoa Market & Farmgate Pressure: London cocoa prices eased, but the bigger story for Côte d’Ivoire is still compliance and farmer income—its cocoa regulator says it’s ready for EU anti-deforestation rules starting next month, while exporters warn traceability systems could disrupt purchases; Fairtrade Africa also plans Accra’s Change Day 2026 to push living-income reference prices for Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana. Energy & Offshore Gas Deals: Panoro Energy signed an $80m agreement with DNO to buy DNO’s indirect stake in four producing offshore gas fields in Côte d’Ivoire’s Block CI-27, targeting supplies for the domestic market and adding reserves to its West Africa portfolio. Trade & Infrastructure Governance: Côte d’Ivoire’s cocoa and logistics competitiveness remains in focus as regional partners push better data and cross-border coordination, including ECOWAS workshops in Abidjan to harmonize migration and macroeconomic statistics.

Road Works Oversight: Ghana’s Roads Minister Kwame Agbodza urged contractors in Ashanti to speed up projects like the Outer Kumasi Ring Road and key links (Abidjan Nkwanta–Kuntenase, Suame Interchange, Bekwai Roundabout–Santasi) without cutting corners on quality and value for money. Cocoa Compliance & Farmer Finance: Ivory Coast’s cocoa regulator says it’s ready for the EU’s end-December anti-deforestation rules, using digital farmer “producer cards” to trace beans from farms to ports and support access to banking—though exporters warn the system could disrupt purchases and exports. Energy Deal in Focus: Panoro Energy signed an $80m agreement with DNO to buy its indirect stake in four producing offshore gas fields in Block CI-27, boosting Panoro’s Côte d’Ivoire gas base and targeting completion in mid-September. Côte d’Ivoire Business & Tech: Blue Cloud Softech signed an MoA with GCIB and Afro Mobile SARL to develop telecom and digital infrastructure across Africa, including fibre backbones, 4G/5G, digital public infrastructure and satellite connectivity. Maritime Security: Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire will hold another joint inspection of their shared maritime boundary starting Aug. 22 to strengthen coordination and security. Commodities Watch: Reports flag potential fertiliser shortages for key crops including cocoa, while El Niño risk is pushing expectations of higher chocolate prices.

Cocoa Price Pressure & Farmer Pay: Fairtrade Africa will convene cocoa stakeholders in Accra on Aug. 27 for Change Day 2026, alongside its AGM, after publishing 2026 Fairtrade Living Income Reference Prices for Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana—aimed at closing the gap between farm-gate prices and a living income for the region’s smallholders. EU Cocoa Rules Readiness: Côte d’Ivoire’s cocoa regulator says it is ready for the EU’s anti-deforestation requirements, with digital farmer “producer cards” set to track cocoa from farms to export ports from the 2026/27 season start on Sept. 1—though exporters warn the system could disrupt purchases. Oil & Gas Deal in Côte d’Ivoire: Panoro Energy has agreed to buy DNO’s subsidiary DNO CI for $86.5m to gain an indirect stake in offshore Block CI-27, a major non-associated gas source supplying most of the country’s needs; completion is expected mid-September 2026. Digital Infrastructure Partnership: Blue Cloud Softech Solutions signed a strategic MoA with GCIB and Côte d’Ivoire’s Afro Mobile SARL to develop telecom and digital infrastructure across Africa, including fibre, 4G/5G, connectivity, and digital public infrastructure. Maritime Security Cooperation: Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire are set for another joint inspection of their shared maritime boundary starting Aug. 22, building on a 2017 ITLOS ruling and prior exercises under ECOWAS coordination.

Offshore Gas Deal: Panoro Energy has agreed to buy DNO’s Côte d’Ivoire business (DNO CI), including an indirect 9.09% stake in Block CI-27, for $86.5m (cash plus new Panoro shares), with completion expected mid-September 2026—boosting Panoro’s gas position as CI-27 supplies most of the country’s non-associated gas. More Gas M&A: Panoro also signed an $80m definitive agreement with DNO to acquire its indirect stake in four producing offshore gas fields in Block CI-27, where production is tied to fixed platforms and feeds the domestic market. Cocoa Compliance Watch: Côte d’Ivoire’s cocoa regulator says it is ready for the EU’s anti-deforestation rules, rolling out digital farmer ID cards from Sept. 1 for traceability and certification—while exporters warn the system could disrupt purchases and exports. ECOWAS Data Push: ECOWAS is running Abidjan workshops to improve migration statistics and harmonize macroeconomic data compilation under PHASAOC, supporting regional surveillance and convergence. Maritime Security: Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire will conduct another joint inspection of their common maritime boundary starting Aug. 22, building on ITLOS’s 2017 legal settlement to strengthen coordination and confidence. Digital Infrastructure Partnership: Blue Cloud Softech Solutions signed a MoA with GCIB and Côte d’Ivoire’s Afro Mobile SARL to develop telecom and digital infrastructure across Africa, including fibre, 4G/5G, connectivity assets, and digital public infrastructure.

Oil & Gas Deal: Panoro Energy has signed an $80m definitive agreement with DNO to buy DNO’s indirect stake in four producing offshore gas fields on Ivory Coast’s Block CI-27, boosting Panoro’s presence in a fast-growing E&P hotspot; the shallow-water block supplies the domestic market and Panoro says CI-27 holds the country’s largest non-associated gas reserves. Cocoa Trade Rules: Ivory Coast’s cocoa regulator says it is ready for the EU’s anti-deforestation rules, with digital farmer ID cards and traceability starting for the 2026/27 season on Sept. 1, though exporters warn the compliance system could disrupt purchases and exports. Agriculture Risk: With El Niño forecast to be “very strong,” cocoa prices could stay elevated as drought threatens flowering and fruit development in Ivory Coast and Ghana, while warnings also point to potential fertiliser shortages for key crops including cocoa. ECOWAS Data Push: ECOWAS is running Abidjan workshops to harmonize migration and macroeconomic statistics, aiming to improve data quality and support regional convergence efforts. Maritime Security: Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire will conduct another joint inspection of their shared maritime boundary starting Aug. 22 to strengthen coordination and security. Digital Infrastructure MoA: Blue Cloud Softech Solutions signed an MoA with GCIB and Côte d’Ivoire’s Afro Mobile SARL to develop telecoms and digital infrastructure across Africa.

Cocoa Compliance Watch: Ivory Coast’s cocoa regulator says it’s ready for the EU’s new anti-deforestation rules, with digital “producer cards” meant to prove traceability from farms to ports starting Sept. 1—though exporters warn the system could slow purchases and shipments. Energy Deal in Focus: Panoro Energy has agreed to buy DNO’s Côte d’Ivoire gas business (DNO CI) for $86.5m, boosting Panoro’s output and reserves via Block CI-27, with completion targeted for mid-September 2026. ECOWAS Data Push: ECOWAS is running Abidjan workshops to harmonize migration statistics and strengthen macroeconomic data compilation under regional convergence plans. Digital Infrastructure MoA: Blue Cloud Softech Solutions signed an MoA with GCIB and Côte d’Ivoire’s Afro Mobile SARL to develop telecom and digital infrastructure across Africa, including fibre, 4G/5G, connectivity and digital public services. Climate Risk for Farmers: El Niño fears are driving cocoa prices higher again, while warnings of potential fertiliser shortages could hit key crops—especially cocoa—across West Africa. Gold & Mining Signals: Resolute’s results highlight gold price strength and cost discipline, while gold trading networks remain a key financing channel for conflict across the Sahel and Horn.

Oil & Gas Deal: Panoro Energy signed an agreement with DNO to acquire DNO’s wholly owned subsidiary DNO CI, giving Panoro an indirect 9.09% interest in offshore Côte d’Ivoire’s Block CI-27, boosting its production and reserves and adding gas for local power generation. Capital Markets: ASX-listed Dalaroo Metals secured firm commitments via a placement to fund continued exploration and target definition at its Bondoukou Gold Project in Côte d’Ivoire. Trade & Finance: Veefin Solutions and NSIA Group partnered to expand Supply Chain Finance across five West African markets including Côte d’Ivoire, aiming to digitise reverse factoring and factoring for SMEs. Public Health & Regional Cooperation: ECOWAS health experts met in Abidjan to validate a 2027-2031 regional plan for epidemic preparedness and response, citing threats like yellow fever, cholera and meningitis. Cocoa Outlook: Cocoa prices moved with weather and supply signals, as reports highlighted shifting conditions in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana and the market’s sensitivity to El Niño risks. Business Environment: ECOWAS stakeholders discussed strengthening epidemic response and cross-border implementation, while the broader week also featured renewed focus on border processes to cut trade delays across West Africa.

ECOWAS Health Security: ECOWAS experts meeting in Abidjan reaffirmed plans to strengthen regional response to epidemics, validating a 2027-2031 strategic plan for epidemic preparedness and response at the RCSDC, with Cote d’Ivoire’s health director general stressing that no country can handle outbreaks alone. Cocoa Market Watch: Cocoa futures moved on weather and supply signals, with reports of improved flowering in Ivory Coast and Ghana weighing on prices, while El Niño risk and tighter inventories keep medium-term support alive. Trade & Border Facilitation: ECOWAS stakeholders urged sustained public education and stronger collaboration with border communities to make the free movement protocol work in practice—aiming to cut delays and boost cross-border commerce. Supply Chain Finance for SMEs: Veefin Solutions and NSIA Group partnered to expand digital supply chain finance across five West African markets including Cote d’Ivoire, enabling reverse factoring and factoring to unlock working capital for suppliers and SMEs. Business & Governance: Cote d’Ivoire reaffirms commitment to fighting financial crime, while regional institutions and investors continue positioning for growth across West Africa’s markets.

Cocoa Market Watch: Cocoa prices moved with weather and supply signals, with Ivory Coast and Ghana seeing reports of favorable growing conditions and new flowering, while inventories and shipment data kept traders split on the outlook. EU Compliance Pressure: West African exporters face rising traceability and cost burdens as the EU deforestation rules tighten, raising supply concerns for chocolate buyers and pushing more farm-mapping and geolocation work. Supply Chain Finance: Veefin Solutions and NSIA Group partnered to expand digital supply chain finance across five West African markets, aiming to unlock working capital for SMEs via factoring and reverse factoring. Hospitality Expansion: Aleph Hospitality appointed Rob Kucera as Regional Vice President for East and Southern Africa, tasked with scaling operations across 25+ hotels in nine countries. Mining Governance: Allied Gold added Joanna Pearson to its board as an independent director, as the company moves from development toward production at its Kurmuk Mine. Mobility Financing: Naran raised $10m to expand rent-to-own vehicle financing in Colombia, Peru, Senegal and Ivory Coast, targeting drivers shut out of traditional bank credit. Cross-Border Trade Push: ECOWAS stakeholder talks at the Ghana–Togo border urged sustained public education to improve implementation of the free movement protocol and reduce trade friction.

Cocoa Market Watch: Cocoa futures swung on weather and currency signals, with prices pressured by reports of exceptional flowering and rising Ivory Coast inventories, even as some traders pointed to tighter supplies and a weaker dollar that later supported short covering. EU Compliance Pressure: West Africa’s cocoa sector is bracing for the EU deforestation rules, warning that fragmented small-farm supply chains may raise traceability costs and risk early supply shortfalls for European buyers. Supply Chain Finance: Veefin Solutions and NSIA Group partnered to roll out digital supply chain finance across Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, Benin, Togo and Guinea, aiming to expand reverse factoring and factoring for SMEs. Energy Investment: Genser Energy secured a €456m credit package to fund gas-to-power projects and growth across West Africa, building on prior financing in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire. Mobility Financing: Naran raised $10m to expand its rent-to-own mobility model, including plans to grow fleets in Côte d’Ivoire. Community & Business: Kobo Resources launched KOBO CUP 2026, expanding its community impact to a fourth village in Côte d’Ivoire, with proceeds from a limited-edition jersey earmarked for participating communities.

Energy Finance: Genser Energy secured a €456m term-and-revolving credit package from FirstRand (RMB), Absa and Standard Bank to fund EPC completion, strengthen its balance sheet and expand gas-to-power across West Africa, building on its earlier Ghana refinancing and Côte d’Ivoire equipment loan. Cocoa & Trade Compliance: West Africa’s cocoa sector is struggling to meet EU anti-deforestation rules under the EUDR, with farmers facing costly farm mapping and traceability demands that could squeeze EU supply and raise chocolate prices. Mobility Lending: Naran raised US$10m in equity and debt to expand its rent-to-own vehicle financing for mobility drivers, including plans to scale fleets in Senegal and Côte d’Ivoire. Mining Update: Aurum Resources reported new high-grade gold intercepts from its Boundiali drilling in Côte d’Ivoire, including 3m at 80.09 g/t at BST1 and results at BST2, which remains outside the current resource. Governance & Security: Côte d’Ivoire’s financial crime fight remains a focus as regional security tensions with Burkina Faso continue to simmer over jihadist accusations. Sports (Business Angle): Côte d’Ivoire winger Elye Wahi is reportedly prioritising a return to OGC Nice, rejecting Hull City approaches—another reminder of how player transfers can move money across European clubs.

Canada Study Visas: Canada will open the Francophone Minority Communities Student Pilot (FMCSP) intake on Aug 26, 2026, accepting up to 2,970 study permit applications from 33 countries (including 28 African nations), offering a direct route to permanent residence. West Africa Cocoa & EU Rules: West Africa’s cocoa sector is struggling to meet the EU’s anti-deforestation traceability demands, raising the risk of supply disruptions and higher costs for chocolate makers. Energy Finance (Côte d’Ivoire): Genser Energy secured a €456m term and revolving credit package to fund gas-to-power projects and expansion across West Africa, building on its Côte d’Ivoire financing. Gold Drilling (Boundiali): Aurum Resources reported high-grade results from ongoing drilling at its Boundiali gold project in Côte d’Ivoire, including 3m at 80.09 g/t. Retail Snapshot (Côte d’Ivoire): Maverick Research shows Côte d’Ivoire’s retail value and volume growth lagging Ghana’s recovery, with ~2% value and ~3% volume growth in H1 2026. Regional Trade Facilitation: ECOWAS held border dialogue to cut delays along the Abidjan–Lagos corridor, focusing on smoother movement of people and goods.