The Ivorian Prime Minister, Patrick Achi, inaugurated this week the extension of the cocoa processing unit of the company Cargill. On the occasion, he revealed that cocoa contributes 20% to the GDP of Côte d'Ivoire.

Cocoa, in Côte d'Ivoire, the world's largest producer, contributes 20% of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). But, according to the Ivorian Prime Minister, “local processing remains insufficient, as does the capture of added value”. Côte d'Ivoire aims to transform all of its production by 2030. “Cocoa is Côte d'Ivoire's main cash crop and represents 40% of national export earnings. In addition, it contributes up to 20% of GDP, and mobilizes nearly 2 million producers,” said Mr. Patrick Achi in a speech. After investing $100 million, Cargill is completing the expansion of its cocoa processing plant in Ivory Coast and making it the largest cocoa grinding plant on the African continent. The company is committing an additional $13 million for this cocoa campaign to expand its sustainability programs and improve supply chain traceability. Cargill thus increases its cocoa processing capacity to 170,000 tonnes.