Author Archives: admin

Blogging on the Abidjan stock exchange

Posted on February 27, 2016 by admin

For those who read French, Okibata.com has made a welcome return to the West African blogosphere in the last few months. The website author, Euclide (whose birthday it happens to be today), has probably done more than anyone else to … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics | 1 Comment

Ivory Coast and Ghana

Posted on February 21, 2016 by admin

I’ve probably mentioned this before, but isn’t it intriguing that West African neighbours Ghana and Ivory Coast share so much in common, including a long border, but seem to be on such differing economic trajectories? I’ve just been reading an … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics | 1 Comment

Headwinds ahead

Posted on January 24, 2016 by admin

I’m lucky enough to have institutional access to Africa Confidential, and the latest edition of the newsletter makes for rather depressing reading. Economic headwinds ahead for Africa include a strong dollar, greater competition for the attention of western investors, troubles … Continue reading →

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The editorial meeting

Posted on January 8, 2016 by admin

Oh, to be a fly on the wall at the RTI (state tv) morning editorial meeting today. Here’s my imagined fictional account just for fun: Editor: “Ok, folks silence, let’s make a start. [Quiet descends, nervous glances, visible stress] As you … Continue reading →

Posted in Journalism | Leave a comment

Ivory Coast – African country of the year 2015?

Posted on December 29, 2015 by admin

This post is both spurious and speculative, but if you had to select an ‘African country of the year’ in 2015, I would reckon Ivory Coast / Cote d’Ivoire must be in with a fighting chance. Not that I follow … Continue reading →

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BRVM update 2015

Posted on December 16, 2015 by admin

As is the tradition (though one that’s about to end) the end of the year at Drogba’s Country is the moment for an update on the West African Stock Exchange (BRVM), based in Abidjan. As a recap, I started investing … Continue reading →

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A quiet spell

Posted on December 15, 2015 by admin

It might have escaped your notice, but I haven’t blogged here for a while. Since setting up Drogba’s Country in 2011, I’ve been pretty consistent in blogging about Ivory Coast despite having left the country at the end of 2012. Nevertheless, I … Continue reading →

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A booming Ivory Coast

Posted on September 27, 2015 by admin

Exactly a month ahead of presidential elections on Friday, Reuters published a glowing tribute to the Ivory Coast boom. On the same day they also published a story on the start of work on a brand new Heineken beer factory in … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics | 1 Comment

Abidjan’s ‘Club Croissances’ calls it a day

Posted on September 26, 2015 by admin

Let me tell you a story that goes back to the early days of blogging in Cote d’Ivoire. One of the pioneer blogs focused on business stories linked to the West African Stock Exchange or BRVM. The blog was the initiative of a … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics | Tagged | 1 Comment

Promoting investment

Posted on September 20, 2015 by admin

On a flight back to West Africa yesterday I picked up a free copy of ‘The Africa Report’ magazine, and was interested to read a two page advert taken out by the Centre for Promoting Investments in Cote d’Ivoire(CEPICI). These … Continue reading →

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