Côte d’Ivoire builds $100m factory in bid to process entire cocoa harvest
Ivorian conglomerate Atlantic Group has begun work on a $108m cocoa-processing factory in the city of San Pedro in Côte d’Ivoire.
The 9ha project was launched by Prime Minister Patrick Achi and, when complete in 24 months’ time, will allow Côte d’Ivoire to clean, dry, grind, roast and press a proportion of its cocoa harvest.
According to the government, the Atlantic Cocoa Corporation plant will be able to process 64,000 tonnes a year, rising to 100,000 tonnes. The aim is to be able to handle the whole of the country’s cocoa production by 2030.
Côte d’Ivoire accounts for around 46% of the 4.8 million tonnes of beans produced each year worldwide. The factory will allow it to capture some of the commodity’s value chain. At present, 40% of cocoa production is processed in Europe.
According to the government, the plant will create around 1,700 direct and indirect jobs.
Good start, our neighbour. Ghana will follow suit. In the mean time, our cocoa should be processed in our neighborhood country, not in Europe any more.
God bless the initiators
Great move. These are the things we want to see our leaders do. Let’s add value to our products here on the continent.
Great move. These are the things we want to see our leaders do. Let’s add value to our products here on the continent.