This study investigates the position of Côte d’Ivoire’s cocoa industry within the global production chain and identifies key influencing factors from 1960 to 2024. Using a Vector Error Correction Model (VECM), the research evaluates the effects of economic and climate variables—cocoa bean production, global cocoa prices, GDP contributions, domestic cocoa grindings, rainfall, and temperature—on cocoa exports. The findings reveal that a 1% increase in global cocoa prices decreases exports by 0.45%, indicating significant price sensitivity. Cocoa bean production accounts for 42.39% of export variance over the long term, while GDP contributions (0.88%) and domestic cocoa grindings (0.34%) enhance competitiveness and value addition. Rainfall negatively impacts productivity, underscoring vulnerabilities to climate variability, whereas temperature has a short-term positive effect on export performance (0.12%). Short-term dynamics demonstrate rapid adjustments toward equilibrium, with adjustment speeds of 41.23% for Côte d’Ivoire and 37.21% for Ghana. The study highlights Côte d’Ivoire’s dependence on raw cocoa exports and its susceptibility to price volatility and climate risks. By comparing Côte d’Ivoire with Ghana, the analysis underscores the advantages of robust domestic processing policies. To ensure long-term sustainability, the study recommends expanding domestic cocoa processing, adopting agroforestry practices to mitigate climate risks, and investing in infrastructure to boost competitiveness and resilience.

In view of the leather and footwear industry’s declining market share and production activity, our study aims to identify the most important challenges facing the leather and footwear sector related to the decline in its market share and production activity. It also aims to assess government interventions that have sought to enhance the competitiveness of the sector. In this framework, data on the values and quantities of imported shoes for the West Bank during the period 2010–2021 were used to compare the change in their direction relative to another selected commodity under the appropriate conditions for the use of this model, where the study sample included a selected sample of shoe factories and tanneries owners in the city of Hebron, which numbered 232 factories. This study focused on the “Difference in Difference” methodology. The results showed that there are no indications that the import of shoes from China is affected by these politics, and the success of this policy lies in subjecting the flow of imported goods to the scrutiny of the Palestinian customs department. Furthermore, the study also provides a vision for the Palestinian government to create a legislative structure to protect and support the national product.

The journal retracts the article titled “Developing and Enhancing the Competitiveness of the Palestinian National Product: The Leather and Footwear Sector—Analysis and Evaluation of Government Interventions”

This research explores the dynamics of Côte d’Ivoire’s cocoa industry within the global production chain from 1960 to 2024. Employing a Vector Error Correction Model (VECM), it examines the impact of key economic and environmental factors, including gross cocoa production, cocoa bean prices, GDP, domestic cocoa grindings, rainfall, and temperature, on cocoa bean exports. By unraveling short- and long-term relationships, the study highlights how economic variables propel exports while climatic factors exacerbate production vulnerabilities. Incorporating rigorous econometric methods and extending a comparative analysis with Ghana enriches the understanding of regional dynamics, emphasizing the interplay between macroeconomic stability and agricultural sustainability. The findings propose actionable strategies to enhance global competitiveness, such as promoting value addition through domestic cocoa grindings and adopting climate-resilient farming practices. This study uniquely integrates climatic and economic variables using advanced econometric techniques, offering novel insights into the dynamics of Côte d’Ivoire’s cocoa industry and its global competitiveness.