AGP Executive Report

Marine Inputs: IFFO warns global fishmeal supply could fall below 4.6 million tonnes in 2026, its lowest level since 2016; raw material availability also declined in African producing countries. India Ties: Talks in Abidjan covered trade, investment, infrastructure, agriculture and healthcare, alongside defence training and capacity-building. Offshore Energy: VAALCO has started Phase 5 drilling at the Baobab field, planning four producers and three water injectors; the first producer is expected by year-end. Mining: Awalé Resources reported new gold-copper intercepts at its Odienné project, including mineralisation beyond the current resource and a near-surface interval of 44 metres grading 3.1 g/t gold equivalent. Rural Land: Côte d’Ivoire aims to secure nine million hectares over ten years, issuing 1.5 million land certificates and formalising 1.5 million agricultural contracts to support investment and reduce disputes. Port Logistics: Abidjan averaged 4.5 days of vessel waiting time, with delays reaching 12 days amid congestion at major global gateways.

India–Côte d’Ivoire Ties: Talks in Abidjan covered trade, investment, infrastructure and agriculture, while India’s ITEC programme offers training to help build local technical and institutional capacity. Offshore Energy: Vaalco has started drilling at the Baobab field, with a four-well production program underway and the first new producer expected online by year-end. Mining: Awalé Resources reported gold-copper intercepts extending mineralization beyond its current resource at the Odienné project, with further drill results pending. Agriculture: The government aims to secure nine million hectares of rural land over the next decade, issuing 1.5 million land certificates and signing 1.5 million agricultural contracts to strengthen investment security. Ports and Trade: Abidjan averaged 4.5 days of vessel waiting time, with delays reaching 12 days, underscoring pressure on cargo flows. Digital Infrastructure: Vertiv and Cybastion are exploring projects across Côte d’Ivoire and other African markets, combining data-centre expertise with government digital-transformation programs.

Agricultural Investment: Côte d’Ivoire plans to secure 9 million hectares of rural land over the next decade, issue 1.5 million land certificates and formalize 1.5 million farm agreements to reduce disputes and support investment. Mining: Awalé Resources reported wide gold-copper intersections at its Odienné project, including mineralization beyond the current resource. Kobada is in full-scale construction, with more than 900 workers on site and first gold targeted for 2027; Lycopodium has also begun early engineering and procurement work for Endeavour’s Assafou project, pending a final investment decision. Offshore Energy: VAALCO has started drilling at the Baobab field, with the first new producer expected online near the end of 2026. Ports and Trade: Abidjan averaged 4.5 days of vessel waiting time, with delays reaching 12 days amid congestion. An October 16 business event in Abidjan will connect Italian and Ivorian firms; bilateral trade reached €829.4 million in 2025. Cocoa: Poor rains have raised concerns that Côte d’Ivoire’s main crop could finish early, while Ghana’s higher farmgate price may draw some Ivorian cocoa across the border.

Cocoa & Forest Policy: A new Global Witness analysis says the EU’s zero-deforestation rules (EUDR) are already cutting cocoa-linked emissions and pushing “deforestation-free” claims higher, even before full enforcement—raising pressure on major buyers like Mondelez. Cocoa Supply Risk (Ivory Coast): Ivorian cocoa farmers warn poor rainfall could end the main crop early, with industry expecting output to drop to about 1.25m tonnes from 1.5m last season. Oil & Gas (Ivory Coast): VAALCO reports successful Gabon Phase 3 drilling and starts Baobab Phase 5 offshore Côte d’Ivoire operations, targeting first producer well online near end-2026 and growth in 2027. Mining & EPC (Ivory Coast): Lycopodium won engineering and procurement services for Endeavour Mining’s Assafou gold project; early works are underway while the final investment decision is expected before year-end. Port & Logistics Tech: Smart berths using sensor-enabled bollards are gaining traction, with Rotterdam-style monitoring aimed at improving safety, maintenance planning, and berth asset management. Regional Trade Facilitation: ECOWAS public campaigns push mutual acceptance of the biometric ENBIC ID across borders by December 2026, supporting smoother movement for traders and travelers. Digital Infrastructure (West Africa): Vertiv and Cybastion sign an MoU to expand digital infrastructure collaboration across markets including Côte d’Ivoire. Energy Prices (Ivory Coast): Government maintains October 2026 butane and fuel price grids nationwide, including Abidjan industrial butane rates.

ICC/Justice & Industrial Policy: Burkina Faso’s Ibrahim Traoré attacks the International Criminal Court as “imperialism,” arguing it targets Africans while ignoring Western actions—while also pushing industrialisation at home, including soldier-uniform and armoured-vehicle manufacturing. Energy & LNG Infrastructure: Lloyd’s Register grants GasEntec an Approval in Principle for a new FSRU design, boosting flexibility for LNG regasification—useful context for West Africa’s gas-to-power ambitions. Mining & Construction Pipeline (Côte d’Ivoire): Toubani Resources says the Kobada Gold Project is in full-scale construction, with CIL tank erection underway, long-lead equipment shipped, 900+ workers on site, and first gold targeted for Q3 2027. Cocoa Supply Risk (Côte d’Ivoire): Reuters reports Ivorian cocoa farmers fear poor rainfall could end the main crop early; industry expects output to drop to ~1.25m tonnes from 1.5m last season. Cocoa Value Chain (Regional): Ghana raises its cocoa producer price, widening the gap with Côte d’Ivoire and potentially pulling cross-border volumes. Digital Governance & Monetisation (Côte d’Ivoire): Côte d’Ivoire’s process with Meta aims to unlock direct monetisation for creators on Facebook/Instagram—an important regulatory move for the creative economy. Transport & Trade Facilitation (ECOWAS): ECOWAS expands public campaigns for its biometric identity card to speed border acceptance by December 2026, supporting trade and mobility. Housing & Urban Industry (Côte d’Ivoire): Government launches 420 social/economic housing units in Yamoussoukro under a broader 25,000-unit emergency programme, with delivery set within 36 months. Energy Pricing (Côte d’Ivoire): Hydrocarbons authority maintains October 2026 butane and fuel price grids nationwide, reinforcing cost predictability for households and industry.

Mining & Construction: Toubani Resources says its Kobada Gold Project in Côte d’Ivoire is in full-scale construction, with CIL tank erection underway, long-lead equipment shipped, 70%+ of costs committed, and 900+ workers on site, targeting first gold in Q3 2027. Project Engineering: Lycopodium has won engineering and procurement services for Endeavour Mining’s Assafou gold project, with early works running while the final investment decision is expected before year-end. Cocoa Supply Risk: Reuters reports Ivorian cocoa farmers fear poor rains could cut the main crop, with industry sources expecting output around 1.25m tonnes versus 1.5m last season. Digital Governance for Creators: Côte d’Ivoire moves to unlock Meta monetization for Facebook and Instagram creators, positioning the country as a Francophone African precedent in state-facilitated digital rules. Regional Trade Facilitation: ECOWAS is pushing biometric ID (ENBIC) toward region-wide border acceptance by December 2026, aiming to reduce friction for traders and travellers. Energy & Industry Inputs: The Ivorian government keeps October 2026 butane prices subsidized nationwide, with set tariffs for multiple bottle sizes and industrial bulk rates in Abidjan. Urban Housing: Côte d’Ivoire estimates urban housing needs at 827,753 units by 2030 and has launched 420 social/economic units in Yamoussoukro under a 25,000-unit emergency program. Food Systems & Research: AfricaRice and CIMMYT deepen partnerships to strengthen resilient rice production and reduce import dependence across southern Africa. STEM Pipeline Pressure: A report highlights declining science enrolment in West Africa, with Côte d’Ivoire’s elite maths-and-physics track at just 0.6% of baccalaureate candidates in 2022.

Cocoa Supply & Farmgate Pressure (Ivory Coast): Ivorian cocoa farmers warn poor rainfall could cut the main crop short, with industry expecting output to fall to about 1.25m tonnes from 1.5m last season as El Niño-linked dryness and reduced fertiliser/pesticide use bite. Cocoa Price Spillover (Regional): Ghana raised its 2026/27 producer price by 2.4%, widening the gap with Ivory Coast and raising the risk of cross-border cocoa diversion that could affect Ivorian port volumes. Illegal Gold Crackdown (Ivory Coast): The government is deploying a first batch of vehicles, motorcycles, watercraft and drones to fight illegal gold mining across 11 regions, aiming to eradicate the practice within six months. Energy & Industry Inputs (Ivory Coast): The state keeps butane and fuel price grids in place for October 2026, with the 6kg butane bottle fixed at 2,000 CFA and industrial tariffs published for bulk gas. Trade Facilitation (ECOWAS): ECOWAS is rolling out public campaigns to speed mutual acceptance of its biometric ID card at borders by December 2026, supporting smoother movement for traders and logistics. Food Systems Partnerships (AfricaRice/CIMMYT): AfricaRice’s chief met CIMMYT scientists with Ivory Coast among delegates to strengthen rice research and scaling for resilient, competitive production. Urban Housing Delivery (Ivory Coast): Yamoussoukro saw the launch of 420 social and economic housing units under a wider emergency push, with 36-month delivery targets. STEM Pipeline Concern (Ivory Coast): Education data shows very low uptake of elite maths-and-physics tracks, echoing a wider West Africa trend that threatens future engineering capacity. Port & Logistics Momentum (Cotonou transit): Despite Benin–Niger tensions, Cotonou’s cargo flows are shifting toward Sahel routes, with Burkina Faso driving rising volumes.

Mining & Production: Montage Gold says its Koné mine in Côte d’Ivoire has poured first gold ahead of schedule, moving from construction to production, with early ramp-up supported by investments in ports, roads and power plus workforce training. Security & Enforcement: Côte d’Ivoire is stepping up the fight against illegal gold mining with a first batch of 30 pick-ups, 35 troop vehicles, 300 motorcycles, 12 zodiacs and drones, targeting 11 regions for a crackdown within six months. Education for Industry: Ivory Coast’s STEM pipeline is under strain, with only 0.6% of baccalaureate candidates in 2022 on the elite maths-and-physics track, mirroring a wider West Africa trend that risks future engineering capacity. Housing & Construction: The government estimates urban housing needs at 827,753 units by 2030 and has launched 420 social/economic units in Yamoussoukro under a 25,000-unit emergency program. Payments & Fintech: BCEAO published the latest list of 175 authorized PI-SPI participants, including major mobile money operators in Côte d’Ivoire, expanding interoperable instant payments across the WAEMU. Regional Trade & Industry Links: Bombo Investments is using the Africa Monologue Challenge to build practical cross-country trade and tourism linkages, with ambassadors including Ivory Coast.

Mining & Production: Montage Gold says its Koné mine in Côte d’Ivoire has poured first gold ahead of schedule, with ramp-up supported by ports, roads and power, and initial output targeted at about 350,000 ounces/year. Security & Enforcement: Abidjan has delivered drones, motorcycles and watercraft to crack down on illegal gold mining, with a wider order and a six-month push across 11 regions. Finance & Payments: BCEAO has authorized 175 institutions to offer interoperable instant payments (PI-SPI), with Ivory Coast leading among member states for fintech and mobile money participation. Housing & Construction: Côte d’Ivoire estimates urban housing needs at 827,753 units by 2030 and has launched 420 social/economic units in Yamoussoukro under a 25,000-unit emergency program. STEM & Workforce Pipeline: A report flags a steep drop in science uptake in West Africa, with Ivory Coast’s elite maths-and-physics track at just 0.6% in 2022—raising long-term engineering and industrial skills concerns. Regional Trade & Industry: Africa’s push for cheaper, more direct cross-border flights via free-route airspace could cut costs for logistics and business travel. Energy & Infrastructure: AIIB targets near-doubling infrastructure financing to about €17.6bn by 2030, prioritizing climate resilience, renewables, digital and regional connectivity.

Illegal Gold Crackdown: Abidjan has deployed drones, 300 motorcycles and other assets to curb illegal gold mining, with a wider equipment batch planned to hit 11 affected regions within six months. Mining Output Milestone: Montage Gold says its Koné mine in Côte d’Ivoire has poured first gold on budget and ahead of schedule, moving from construction to production and ramping toward planned annual output. Urban Housing Push: Côte d’Ivoire estimates urban housing demand at 827,753 units by 2030 and has launched 420 social and economic units in Yamoussoukro under a 25,000-unit emergency program. Payments Infrastructure: BCEAO published the list of 175 authorized institutions for PI-SPI interoperable instant payments, with Ivory Coast among the top participants. STEM Supply Concern: Education coverage flags a shrinking science pipeline in Côte d’Ivoire, with only 0.6% of baccalaureate candidates on the elite maths-and-physics track in 2022—an issue for future engineering and industrial staffing. Agroforestry for Cocoa: Barry Callebaut is testing Assisted Natural Regeneration in Ivory Coast to protect cocoa landscapes while addressing deforestation pressures.

STEM Pipeline Crisis: Ivory Coast is seeing a sharp drop in science uptake, with only 0.6% of 2022 baccalaureate candidates on the elite maths-and-physics track and 38% in broader sciences, down from 45% in 2015—mirroring declines across Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Senegal and Niger. Cocoa & Climate-Smart Farming: Barry Callebaut is rolling out Assisted Natural Regeneration in Ivory Coast, pairing naturally regenerating trees with targeted planting to build more resilient cocoa landscapes amid deforestation pressures. Housing & Construction Demand: The government estimates urban housing needs at 827,753 units by 2030 and launched 420 social/economic units in Yamoussoukro under a 25,000-unit emergency program, with 13.5bn CFA funding and a 36-month delivery target. Security for the Gold Sector: Abidjan is deploying drones, 300 motorcycles and other assets to curb illegal gold mining, aiming to eradicate the practice within six months across 11 regions. Mining Output Milestone: Montage Gold says its Koné mine in Côte d’Ivoire achieved first gold pour on budget and ahead of schedule, supporting ramp-up toward projected annual production. Urban Mobility Logistics: AGL Côte d’Ivoire transported five heavy locomotives for Abidjan Metro Line 1 from the Port of Abidjan to the Abobo Sagbé receiving site, advancing the project’s build-out.

Mining & Security in Côte d’Ivoire: Abidjan has started a major crackdown on illegal gold mining, deploying a first batch of 30 pick-ups, 35 troop vehicles, 300 motorcycles, 12 zodiacs and drones to forces across 11 priority regions, with a six-month target to wipe out the activity and a larger order (48 pick-ups, 40 troop vehicles, 360 motorcycles, 84 zodiacs, ~30 drones) in the pipeline. STEM Pipeline Pressure: A new report highlights a shrinking science track in Côte d’Ivoire—only 0.6% of baccalaureate candidates in 2022 chose the elite maths-and-physics stream—mirroring declines across West Africa and raising alarm for future engineering talent. Payments Infrastructure: BCEAO has published the expanded list of 175 authorized PI-SPI participants, with Côte d’Ivoire leading at 38, including major mobile money operators—pushing faster interoperable instant transfers across the WAEMU. Industrial Logistics for Abidjan Metro: AGL Côte d’Ivoire moved five heavy locomotives (332.28 tons) from the Port of Abidjan to the Abobo Sagbé receiving site for Line 1, using cranes, hydraulic trailers and coordinated port/security support. Gold Value-Chain Trend (Regional): Burkina Faso opened Raffinor-BF, its first domestic gold refinery, aiming to process and certify gold locally—part of a wider West African push to keep more value in-country.

Illegal Gold Crackdown in Ivory Coast: Abidjan is deploying drones, 300 motorcycles, pick-ups, troop vehicles and zodiacs to hit illegal gold mining across 11 regions, with a first batch delivered Sept. 30 and a larger order planned to support a six-month eradication push. Mining Value-Chain Push (Regional): Burkina Faso opened Raffinor-BF, its first domestic gold refinery, aiming to process and certify gold at home and keep more value in-country; it starts at 164 tonnes/year with plans to scale. Cocoa & Skills Pressure: Ivory Coast’s science pipeline is weakening, with only 0.6% of baccalaureate candidates on the elite maths-physics track in 2022, raising alarm for future engineering and industrial capacity. Abidjan Metro Logistics: Africa Global Logistics Côte d’Ivoire moved five heavy locomotives for Abidjan Metro Line 1, showing how port-to-rail transport capability underpins urban infrastructure. Payments Infrastructure: BCEAO authorized 175 institutions to offer interoperable instant payments (PI-SPI), with Ivory Coast leading at 38 participants—good news for fintech and trade flows. Climate Finance Boost: GCF unlocked $4bn+ for African climate investments, but stressed the need for more investment-ready project pipelines.

Illegal Mining Crackdown: Abidjan is stepping up the fight against illegal gold mining with a first batch of 30 pick-ups, 35 troop vehicles, 300 motorcycles, 12 zodiacs and drones, targeting 11 high-risk regions for a six-month push coordinated by prefects and special security brigades. STEM Pipeline Pressure: A new report highlights a shrinking science track in West Africa, with Ivory Coast’s elite maths-and-physics stream at just 0.6% of baccalaureate candidates in 2022—an alarm bell for future engineering and industrial skills. Mining Investment Signals: Glencore signed a five-year $300m offtake and pre-financing deal with Guinea’s Nimba Mining Company, underlining continued demand for bauxite and broader mineral development across the region. Rail & Urban Mobility Supply Chain: AGL Côte d’Ivoire moved five heavy locomotives (332.28 tons) for Abidjan Metro Line 1, showing how port-to-rail logistics are powering local infrastructure delivery. Payments Infrastructure: BCEAO published the authorized list of 175 participants for PI-SPI instant payments, with Ivory Coast hosting 38 approved actors including major mobile money providers. Cocoa Market Watch: Cocoa prices fell on a stronger dollar and signs of abundant Ivory Coast supply, with port shipments up sharply year-on-year.

Mining & Processing: 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 ports, roads and power. Illegal Gold Crackdown: Côte d’Ivoire is intensifying enforcement against harmful illegal artisanal gold mining, including tougher prison sentences and more brigades, citing environmental damage and links to armed groups. Payments Infrastructure: BCEAO published the authorized list of 175 institutions to open PI-SPI interoperable instant payment services, with Ivory Coast leading at 38 participants—good news for fintech and faster cross-border commerce. Logistics & Rail: AGL Côte d’Ivoire moved five heavy locomotives for Abidjan Metro Line 1 from the Port of Abidjan to the Abobo Sagbé receiving site, showing how industrial logistics underpins urban infrastructure. Energy/Industry Finance: AIIB reaffirmed plans to scale infrastructure financing to about €17.6bn by 2030, targeting climate resilience and regional connectivity. Commodities Watch: Cocoa prices fell as the dollar strengthened and Ivory Coast supply signals stayed heavy.

Mining & Value Addition: Montage Gold says its Koné mine in Côte d’Ivoire has achieved first gold pour on budget and ahead of schedule, with annual output projected around 350,000 ounces in early years and resources now cited at 8.3 million ounces. Transport & Urban Infrastructure: AGL Côte d’Ivoire moved five heavy locomotives (332.28 tonnes total) for Abidjan Metro Line 1, handling the full chain from port unloading to rail placement, including cranes, trailers, safety checks and escorted transport. Industrial Policy & Supply Chains: Côte d’Ivoire is stepping up enforcement against harmful illegal gold mining, with tougher prison sentences and more brigades aimed at cutting black-market flows that can fuel armed groups. Regional Trade & Logistics: A report on West African port competitiveness highlights shore power (“cold ironing”) as a growing berth standard, pushing ports to plan infrastructure for cleaner, more efficient operations. Agribusiness & Exports: Cocoa prices fell on a stronger dollar and signs of ample Ivory Coast supplies, with port shipments and inventories cited as weighing on futures. Tech & Skills: The African Space Agency and ASCI ran the first all-women SpatiELLES Hackathon at ASPEX 2026, spotlighting African female talent in space science and tech.