AGP Executive Report

Connectivity Boost: Starlink has received a 12-month licence from ARTCI to launch commercial fixed satellite internet services in Côte d’Ivoire in July, with the minister saying it will help connect schools, health centres and remote rural areas. Digital Strategy: Côte d’Ivoire is moving ahead with a 2035 digital strategy that puts AI at the centre of seven priority pillars, as the country pushes its wider digital transition. Telecom Rollout: The digital transition minister says Côte d’Ivoire plans to launch a 5G network in July. Environment & Conservation: Conservationists and national parks partners are planning an ecological corridor linking Taï National Park to Grebo National Park in Liberia, using native tree planting in Nigré to help wildlife movement and forest regeneration. Agritech From Space: A decade of satellite-based monitoring is being used to track agricultural supply chains and deforestation-linked risks at scale. Cocoa Sustainability: ofi’s latest impact report highlights progress on cocoa sustainability, including farmer income support, with Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana still facing affordability pressure as cocoa prices fluctuate. Oil & Climate Watch: A new investigation alleges Shell’s Nigeria exit is linked to higher gas flaring at fields sold to Renaissance Africa Energy, raising fresh environmental concerns. Sports Tech Angle: The World Cup is also spotlighting crypto and blockchain integrations tied to fan engagement and digital collectibles.

Satellite Connectivity: Starlink has received ARTCI authorisation to launch commercial fixed satellite internet services in Côte d’Ivoire in July, with a 12-month licence aimed at connecting schools, health centres and remote rural areas. Digital Strategy: Côte d’Ivoire is moving ahead with a 2035 digital strategy that puts AI at the centre of seven priority pillars, alongside broader digital transition efforts. Mobile Networks: The country also plans to launch a 5G network in July, according to the digital transition minister. World Cup Tech & Media: Starlink’s rollout lands as global attention spikes around the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with Google’s World Cup-themed Doodle and extensive match coverage driving demand for reliable connectivity. Sports Tech Spillover: Coverage also highlights how the tournament is increasingly tied to digital platforms, from streaming guides to crypto-linked fan experiences. Local Match Focus: Ivory Coast’s Group E opener vs Ecuador is set for Philadelphia on FS1, with fans in Côte d’Ivoire tracking the match as the Elephants build momentum.

Digital Nation-Building: Côte d’Ivoire unveiled a 2035 digital strategy with AI at the center of seven priority pillars, aiming to modernize public services, boost cybersecurity, expand connectivity, and upgrade digital skills. 5G Rollout: The digital transition minister says the country’s 5G network is set to launch in July, with coverage expanding gradually to cities above 25,000 inhabitants, and a Starlink satellite internet trial also planned for July. Regional Tech Diplomacy: Italy and South Korea signed MOUs to deepen cooperation in advanced science and technology (including AI, semiconductors, quantum, bioscience, and space) and explore joint projects in Africa, with Côte d’Ivoire named among prospective partners. Finance & Markets: Abidjan’s BRVM is pushing for more international investor exposure, arguing West Africa’s fast-growing economies make returns attractive and that market integration is key to financing growth. Sports Tech Angle: FIFA’s World Cup is leaning into crypto and blockchain via partners and a collectibles platform, signaling more digital rails for fan engagement.

Côte d’Ivoire Digital Push: Côte d’Ivoire unveiled a 2035 digital strategy with AI at the center of seven priority pillars, aiming to modernize public services, expand connectivity, boost cybersecurity, and upgrade digital skills. 5G Rollout Watch: The digital transition minister says Côte d’Ivoire plans to launch 5G as early as July, with operators already equipped and coverage to expand gradually to cities above 25,000 inhabitants; authorities also authorized Starlink for a July trial. Regional Tech & Finance: Abidjan-based BRVM’s CEO urged international investors to “come to Africa,” arguing West Africa’s capital markets track fast-growing GDP and offer strong returns across WAEMU. Science Cooperation Link: South Korea and Italy signed MOUs to deepen advanced science and technology ties (including AI, quantum, bioscience, and space) and explore joint projects in Africa, with Côte d’Ivoire listed among prospective partners. Rural Connectivity Funding: NuRAN Wireless secured a major financing mandate (up to $12M) to accelerate rural mobile and broadband deployment, with Côte d’Ivoire among its early tower entries. World Cup, Local Angle: Ivory Coast opens Group E against Ecuador in Philadelphia on June 14, with coverage and odds highlighting the match as a key early test for the Elephants.

Côte d’Ivoire Digital Push: The country unveiled a 2035 digital strategy with AI at the center of seven priority pillars, aiming to modernize public services, boost cybersecurity, expand connectivity, and upgrade digital skills. 5G Rollout: Côte d’Ivoire’s digital transition minister says the national 5G network is set to launch as early as July, with operators already equipped and coverage to expand gradually to cities above 25,000 people; Starlink is also expected to start a July trial. West Africa Tech & Finance: Abidjan-based BRVM’s CEO urged international investors to increase exposure to the region’s fast-growing capital markets, highlighting WAEMU’s multi-country exchange as a key growth engine. Science Partnerships: South Korea and Italy signed MOUs to deepen advanced science cooperation (AI, quantum, bioscience, space) and explore joint projects in Africa, with Côte d’Ivoire listed among prospective partners. Rural Connectivity Funding: NuRAN Wireless secured a major financing mandate (up to $12M) to accelerate rural mobile and broadband expansion, including entry into Ivory Coast. World Cup Tech Angle (Local): Côte d’Ivoire’s World Cup base camp is linked to stadium turf operations in Philadelphia, showing how pro groundskeeping supports tournament play.

5G Rollout in Côte d’Ivoire: The digital transition minister says the country’s 5G network could go live as early as July, with operators already equipped and coverage planned to expand gradually to cities above 25,000 residents; the government also authorized Starlink for a July trial. Rural Connectivity Push: NuRAN Wireless secured a landmark up-to-$12M financing mandate to speed up mobile and broadband expansion across multiple African nations, including its first tower deployments in Côte d’Ivoire. Regional Capital Markets: The Abidjan-based BRVM is urging more international investors to tap West Africa’s growth, highlighting its role across WAEMU and its push to make the market more dynamic. Science Cooperation Track: South Korea and Italy signed MOUs to deepen advanced science and tech ties—covering AI, quantum, bioscience and space—and to explore joint projects in Africa, with Côte d’Ivoire listed among prospective partners. Tech & Finance in Africa: Luno warns South Africa’s draft capital flow rules could restrict stablecoins for cross-border payments, arguing it may slow adoption of new digital payment rails.

5G Rollout in Côte d’Ivoire: The digital transition minister says Côte d’Ivoire is set to launch its 5G network in July, with operators already equipped and coverage planned to expand gradually to cities above 25,000 inhabitants; the government also authorized Starlink for a July trial. Regional Capital Markets: The CEO of the Abidjan-based BRVM (covering WAEMU states) tells investors to “come to Africa,” arguing fast GDP growth and strong market returns make West African equities a financing engine. Africa Tech Partnerships: South Korea and Italy signed MOUs in Rome to boost advanced science and technology cooperation (AI, quantum, bioscience, space) and explore joint projects in Africa, naming Côte d’Ivoire among prospective hosts. Rural Connectivity Funding: NuRAN Wireless secured a landmark $12M financing mandate to accelerate mobile and broadband expansion, including its first tower deployments in Côte d’Ivoire. AI in Browsers Across Africa: Google expands Ask Gemini in Chrome to Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, and includes Côte d’Ivoire in the broader rollout list. Global Tech Meets Local Reality: The week also highlights how major events and policy shifts—from telecom upgrades to investor access—are shaping what tech progress looks like on the ground.

Rural Connectivity Boost: NuRAN Wireless secured a landmark $12M senior debt financing mandate with Afrigreen Debt Impact Fund to expand 2G–4G coverage across underserved African communities, with Ivory Coast already in the rollout. Digital Innovation in Africa: Google expanded “Ask Gemini in Chrome” to Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa (including Côte d’Ivoire), bringing more AI search and understanding features to everyday browsing. Trade Integration Push: AfCFTA says intra-African trade is on track for $250bn in 2026 (from $220bn in 2025), urging faster implementation and tackling bottlenecks like transport, logistics and costly trade finance. Côte d’Ivoire Mining Outlook: Reuters reports Ivorian gold output could rise to 62 tons in 2026 as mines expand, with more projects planned to lift capacity further. Health & Society: A feature on IVF in West Africa highlights how infertility is both a medical and social crisis, with high costs and limited access shaping couples’ options. World Cup Tech & Heat: FIFA pitch prep is driving major stadium turf changes for the tournament, while fan events face extreme heat risks—an issue that matters for public safety planning.

Reproductive Health & Tech: A new report on IVF in West Africa highlights how infertility can unravel marriages and identities, while access remains costly and uncertain across Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal and beyond. AI for Everyday Life: Google is expanding “Ask Gemini in Chrome” to Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa, bringing built-in AI search help to more African users, including Côte d’Ivoire. Digital Identity & Governance: ID4Africa discussions in Abidjan stress “trusted credentials” as the missing key for citizens to access healthcare, schools, social grants, voting and jobs. Mining & Energy Diversification: Côte d’Ivoire’s gold push continues: Reuters reports output could hit 62 tons in 2026 as mines expand, with more projects and research permits to attract investors. Food Security Research: Korea’s rice aid enters a second phase, developing drought- and salinity-tolerant seeds with AfricaRice in Ivory Coast to strengthen rain-fed farming. World Cup Tech & Local Links: As Les Éléphants base-camp life meets global football logistics, Chester (US) formalizes a sister-city deal with Kokumbo, Côte d’Ivoire, tying culture and tourism to the tournament. Public Health at Mass Gatherings: Experts warn the World Cup could amplify measles, dengue, respiratory viruses and STIs, urging vaccination and clinic readiness. Sports, Travel & Access: Research flags high rejection rates for non-European fan visas to the US, with Senegal and Iran hit hardest.

Mining & Industry: Aurum Resources says its Boundiali Gold Project in Côte d’Ivoire has a maiden probable reserve of 1.21Moz gold (42.1Mt at 0.9 g/t), with first gold targeted for H1 2028 and strong PFS economics (post-tax FCF about $2bn; NPV $1.5bn; IRR 119%). Energy & Growth: Côte d’Ivoire’s gold output is set to rise to 62 tonnes in 2026 as mines expand, with plans to add more operations (Kone, Doropo, Tanda) to lift production further in 2027–2028. Agri-Tech & Food Security: Korea-Africa rice support enters a second phase, shifting toward drought- and stress-tolerant seed development, working with AfricaRice in Ivory Coast to speed breeding and transfer know-how. Digital Governance: Côte d’Ivoire’s data-policy ecosystem gets a boost as the Information Commission gains full NADPA-RAPDP membership, strengthening regional cooperation on data privacy and standards. Smart Ports: A Côte d’Ivoire delegation praised Tianjin Port’s smart, carbon-neutral terminal using clean power plus 5G, AI and autonomous systems to cut handling times and improve efficiency.

AI in Health & Food Security: Researchers warn El Niño plus rising temperatures could intensify heat and disrupt agriculture, with knock-on effects for food prices and weather stability. Drone Logistics for Farmers: Zipline says it will expand across Africa using Rwanda-tested drone delivery, including livestock insemination, after reporting higher farmer incomes from cold-chain + drone delivery. Public Health at Mass Gatherings: Experts flag likely World Cup-related outbreaks beyond “exotic” diseases—measles, dengue, respiratory viruses, and STIs—as crowds concentrate in airports, hotels, and stadiums. Sports Tech & Data: Northeastern University researchers used the Hudl StatsBomb dataset to rank key World Cup players, showing how big match event data is shaping scouting. Energy & Industry: Allied Gold updates mine optimization and mine-life extension progress across Côte d’Ivoire, while Nuberg EPC secured a chlor-alkali plant contract in Tanzania—both signals of continued regional industrial investment. Tech Policy & Borders: A Ghana-focused piece argues for more technology-driven border certainty to protect resources, tying AI strategy to sovereignty. World Cup Media Access: FIFA reversed a water-bottle rule after backlash, and UK coverage is set to be fully free-to-air across BBC/ITV.

World Cup on Free-to-Air TV: FIFA’s 2026 tournament is set to be widely accessible, with matches split across BBC and ITV in the UK, plus streaming options for fans who want to watch without cable. Migration & Football: A new look at World Cup squads highlights how migration is shaping national teams, with record shares of foreign-born players in several countries. FIFA Water Bottle U-turn: FIFA reversed a ban on reusable bottles after backlash, allowing fans to bring limited sealed disposable bottles into US and Canada venues. AI for Animal Communication: Researchers say AI is helping decode animal vocal patterns, with projects ranging from primates to marine species and potential uses in conservation and animal welfare. Health Tech in Africa: Africa CDC welcomed approval of Coartem Baby, a malaria treatment specifically dosed for newborns and infants, trialed across multiple African countries including Côte d’Ivoire. Local Innovation in Abidjan: Yango Group held Innovation Day 2026 in Abidjan, showcasing AI and urban tech and graduating the first Yango Fellowship cohort in Côte d’Ivoire. Climate & Food Security: Warnings of a likely El Niño and rising temperatures point to added stress for agriculture and food prices, with knock-on effects across vulnerable regions. Climate-Resilient Farming: Nestlé and Côte d’Ivoire’s CNRA developed new robusta coffee varieties aimed at boosting yields and resilience under climate pressure.

World Cup Tech & Rules: FIFA reversed its earlier ban on refillable bottles after backlash, now allowing fans to bring one factory-sealed disposable bottle (up to 590ml) while keeping hard-sided reusable containers prohibited. Climate & Food Security: A new warning flags a likely El Niño plus record-warm temperatures, raising risks for heat, drought, floods, and higher food-price pressure. Health Innovation (Africa): Africa CDC welcomed approval of Coartem Baby, a malaria treatment specifically dosed for newborns and infants under 5kg, with rollout planned across multiple African countries including Côte d’Ivoire. Local Science & Agriculture (Côte d’Ivoire): Nestlé and CNRA developed six climate-resilient robusta coffee varieties in Côte d’Ivoire, aiming to boost yields and help farmers adapt to warming conditions. Digital Innovation (Abidjan): Yango Group’s Innovation Day 2026 in Abidjan showcased AI-powered route optimization, traffic forecasting, mapping tools, delivery robots, and an AI assistant, alongside a fellowship graduation and partnerships. Education & STEM (Yamoussoukro): Lesotho unveiled its team for the 2026 Pan African Mathematics Olympiad in Yamoussoukro, highlighting STEAM and robotics training ahead of the continental event.

Digital Innovation in Abidjan: Yango Group held Innovation Day 2026 in Abidjan with 200+ participants, showcasing AI route optimisation, traffic forecasting, mapping tools, autonomous delivery robots and its AI assistant, plus a partnership with GUDE-PME and graduation for the first Yango Fellowship cohort in Côte d’Ivoire. Health Tech & Research: Africa CDC welcomed approval of Coartem Baby, a malaria treatment specifically for newborns and infants under 5kg, trialed across eight African countries including Côte d’Ivoire, aiming to reduce overdose risks from older dosing. Climate & Food Security: Nestlé, with CNRA in Côte d’Ivoire, developed six climate-resilient robusta coffee varieties that can nearly double yields, targeting higher temperatures and helping farmers adapt as coffee species face growing threats. AI for Science: Researchers say AI is moving toward decoding animal communication, including work in Ivory Coast on chimpanzee “grammar” and projects analyzing vocal patterns across species. World Cup Tech & Local Relevance: The 2026 World Cup kicks off June 11 with a 48-team format and 104 matches across the US, Canada and Mexico; Côte d’Ivoire fans get a spotlight via Philadelphia’s schedule featuring Ivory Coast matches. Climate Warning: Scientists warn a likely El Niño event plus record heat could intensify extreme weather, raising risks for agriculture and food prices.

World Cup 2026 Kickoff & Logistics: The tournament starts June 11 (Mexico vs South Africa) and runs to July 19 across the USA, Canada and Mexico, with 48 teams and 16 stadiums—plus a Philadelphia match list that includes Ivory Coast vs Ecuador (June 14) and two more Ivory Coast fixtures (June 25 vs Curaçao; June 14 also features the Elephants). Health Innovation for West Africa: Africa CDC welcomed approval of Coartem Baby, a malaria treatment made for newborns and infants under 5kg, with trials including Côte d’Ivoire and plans to roll out across multiple African countries soon. Ivorian Tech & Urban AI: Yango Group held Innovation Day 2026 in Abidjan, showcasing AI-powered route optimisation, traffic forecasting, mapping tools, autonomous delivery robots and an AI assistant, alongside a fellowship graduation and partnerships aimed at digital services for African cities. Climate-Smart Agriculture: Nestlé and Côte d’Ivoire’s CNRA developed six climate-resilient robusta coffee varieties designed to boost yields and help farmers adapt as coffee species face rising heat stress. Digital Identity Momentum: ID4Africa discussions in Abidjan highlighted how African countries are building digital identity systems with government partnerships, aiming for interoperable digital ecosystems.

Health Innovation: Africa CDC welcomed approval of Coartem Baby, the first malaria treatment made for newborns and infants under 5kg, trialed in eight countries including Côte d’Ivoire, with rollout expected soon. Climate-Smart Agriculture: Nestlé and Côte d’Ivoire’s CNRA developed six climate-resilient, high-yield robusta coffee varieties, aiming to boost yields by up to 86% with the same inputs. Urban Tech & Mobility: Yango Group’s Innovation Day 2026 in Abidjan drew 200+ leaders, showcasing AI route optimisation, traffic forecasting, mapping tools, autonomous delivery robots and an AI assistant, plus a GUDE-PME partnership and Yango Fellowship graduation. Digital Identity Ecosystem: ID4Africa coverage highlights how African vendors are pushing leapfrogging digital identity systems, with Abidjan featuring in the wider identity conversation. Education & STEM: Lesotho unveiled its team for the 2026 Pan African Mathematics Olympiad in Yamoussoukro, Côte d’Ivoire, running June 26–July 4. Tech & Infrastructure Finance: Africa Finance Corporation raised a record US$2bn syndicated loan to scale integrated infrastructure and industrial platforms across Africa.