Aviation & Trade Links: Canada’s Foreign Minister Anita Anand wrapped up a visit to Benin and Côte d’Ivoire, announcing new financing and deals, including plans to negotiate an expanded Air Transport Agreement with Abidjan to boost connectivity and people-to-people ties. Digital Economy Push: Côte d’Ivoire opened free applications for two AI-backed tech programmes—Ivoire Tech Next 15 and Ivoire Tech Scale Up—to support 30 local digital companies over 24 months, with a September shortlist and jury selection. Independence Day Agenda: President Alassane Ouattara used the 66th Independence Day address to stress that economic growth must be matched by stronger institutions, better public services, jobs and social inclusion, while also pointing to the 2026-2030 National Development Plan and the Strategic Sovereign Fund for Development. Agro-Industry Investment Gap: Ghana’s cashew apples issue highlights the wider West African opportunity: 1.8m tonnes of cashew apples reportedly go to waste annually due to a lack of processing plants—an angle that matters for Côte d’Ivoire’s own agro-processing ambitions. Energy & Oil Outlook: Murphy Oil spudded its first appraisal well on the Bubale discovery offshore Côte d’Ivoire, targeting Turonian reservoirs and potentially extending appraisal up to two years depending on results. Regional Integration by Air: African aviation leaders urged faster implementation of open skies rules to unlock AfCFTA trade, stressing that policy exists but delivery is slow.