SME Finance Boost: EBID signed a €80m deal with Coris Holding to expand lending for SMEs/SMIs across West Africa, targeting agriculture, agribusiness and energy value chains, with extra liquidity to scale productive investment in Côte d’Ivoire and beyond. Air Cargo & Connectivity: Royal Air Maroc opened four new Europe routes from Casablanca (Spain, Italy, France), using diaspora demand plus cargo capacity to move pharmaceuticals and industrial goods onward to hubs including Abidjan. Maritime Security Watch: The ICC-IMB piracy report shows global incidents down in H1 2026, but violence and hostage-taking remain a concern, with risk patterns diverging across key shipping corridors. Cocoa Supply Pressure: Cocoa prices jumped on renewed production worries; while much of the focus is Ghana, the wider West African cocoa crunch keeps pressure on supply chains that Côte d’Ivoire exporters depend on. Plastic-to-Housing Model: A Colombia-born recyclable housing system is scaling in Africa, with a factory in Abidjan turning plastic waste into bricks and columns—promising faster, cheaper construction for vulnerable communities. Creative Industry & Talent: Locarno’s Open Doors 2026 spotlights African cinema, including Côte d’Ivoire’s animation studio Studio Kä, while AMC confirms Nouvelle Place as its Pan-African house for Season 3 in Ghana. Basketball in Abidjan: The 2026 FIBA U18 AfroBasket runs 5–16 August at Palais des Sports de Treichville, putting Côte d’Ivoire in the spotlight for youth sports and regional talent.