20 Dec 2018: By end September 2018, the volume of public procurement markets approved in Côte d’Ivoire was XOF1,038.72 billion (about $1.8 billion) against XOF600.02 billion ($1 billion) in 2017 ; representing a 73.1% increase on a year on year basis. This was announced by the government during the ministerial council held on December 18, 2018. According to the authorities, 3,288 contracts were approved during the period under review against 3,148 by the same period a year earlier, representing a 4.4% increase.