Domestic Business Competition: Three Ivorian firms are carving out space against global giants, from Petro Ivoire’s push in fuel distribution to Djamo and Kaira Holding’s moves in sectors like digital finance and manufacturing. National Development Financing: Côte d’Ivoire’s PND 2026-2030 got a major boost after a consultative meeting in Abidjan, with AGL pledging 800 billion FCFA over five years and the Africa Finance Corporation backing new infrastructure funding models. Cocoa Value Addition Push: Nigeria, Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire are aligning to stop exporting cheap raw cocoa beans and capture more value through local processing and branding, echoing the “From Bean to Brand” push. Energy Sector Platform: The APPO NOC-CEO Forum in Cape Town (Oct 12) will focus on keeping more value in Africa’s oil and gas through refining, regional gas markets and harmonized rules. Climate & Flood Risk: Scientists say extreme West Africa rainfall is now about five times more likely due to climate change, with heavy downpours hitting coastal cities from Ivory Coast to Nigeria. Regional Mobility Rules: FATF updated its monitoring lists, removing Algeria and Namibia while adding Bosnia and Iraq; meanwhile, visa-free entry lists keep expanding across the region, including Côte d’Ivoire’s inclusion in some 2026 schemes.