Côte d’Ivoire is cementing its status as West Africa’s economic powerhouse, with the IMF projecting 6.4% growth in 2026, supported by investments in energy, mining, and infrastructure. Recent developments, including a new gas discovery and a $190 million gold project, have boosted investor confidence, alongside favorable credit ratings that allowed the country to raise $1.3 billion in international bonds at its lowest borrowing cost in five years. Yet beneath the headline numbers, two serious challenges loom. A skilled labor shortage threatens to bottleneck expansion, while the critical cocoa sector—representing up to 15% of GDP—faces climate stress, price volatility, and an inefficient marketing system that left smallholder farmers unable to benefit from the 2024–2025 price boom. As President Ouattara enters his next term, the challenge is shifting from attracting foreign billions to ensuring that the wealth reaches local communities and builds a workforce capable of powering a high-tech future.
African Business
