Cotton-to-cloth takeover: COIC, the Ivorian cotton group, has completed its purchase of Vlisco’s long-held stake in Abidjan wax fabric maker Uniwax, raising its ownership to 72.29% and signaling a push from ginning into finished textiles. Cocoa labour pressure: SYNAPCI is keeping its cocoa strike going at the 1,200 FCFA/kg guaranteed price, with farmers in regions like Bédiala and Arrah citing marketing and payment issues and demanding higher farm-gate prices plus leadership changes at the Coffee-Cocoa Council. LNG for power demand: Exmar has revived an Abidjan FSRU plan via a 10-year lease deal with CI Energies and Petroci, targeting LNG imports from Q3 2027 to feed gas-to-power plants. Oil exploration expansion: Petrobras has signed exploration contracts covering eight offshore blocks off Côte d’Ivoire, with Petroci holding 10% and Petrobras Netherlands operating the 90% stake. Trade logistics squeeze: Shipping a 20-foot container from Abidjan to Douala nearly doubled in 2025 (+95%), making Abidjan more expensive than Antwerp and Le Havre for the same route. Education for international students: Excelsior University signed its first partnership for international learners with Abidjan-based Virtual University of Côte d’Ivoire, creating a pathway to an MBA. Infrastructure services shift: JFE Engineering says it is moving beyond new builds toward maintenance and rebuilding, including experience in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire.