1. Major investment in local cocoa processing
A new $232 million cocoa grinding plant, backed by China, was inaugurated to boost local value addition .
2. From raw beans to finished products
The plant enhances Côte d’Ivoire’s production chain by moving beyond raw bean sales to producing processed cocoa goods—a shift toward higher-value products .
3. Partnership and financing models
The initiative involves a mix of public-private investment, including Chinese financing, and is part of a broader scale-up effort .
4. Strengthening farmer income and value chains
By establishing local grinding capacity, the country can capture more value on-site, improve farmer incomes, and reduce reliance on exporting raw beans.
5. Energy & operations strategy
The facility employs renewable energy in its second phase to power processing lines—cutting costs, minimizing diesel dependence, and improving sustainability .
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Why this matters:
Historically, Côte d’Ivoire has exported around 45% of the world’s cocoa beans but captured minimal value from processing .
With processing infrastructure coming online, the country is capturing more of the chocolate value chain locally—an economic leap for farmers and exporters alike
