CÔTE D’IVOIRE – Côte d’Ivoire has inaugurated a new cashew nut processing unit in Boundiali, situated in the Bagoué region, signaling a major leap forward in the country’s ambition to strengthen its local processing capacities.
Prime Minister Robert Beugré presided over the ceremony on July 12, underscoring the government’s commitment to advancing the agricultural sector through strategic investments.
The new facility, which spans 10 hectares in the communal village of Tombougou-Samorosso, was funded by the Emirati company Pan African Agro Commodities (PAAC) at a cost of 15 billion CFA francs ($24.9 million).
Designed with a processing capacity of 50 tonnes per day, equivalent to over 18,000 tonnes annually, the unit represents a pivotal step towards achieving Côte d’Ivoire’s goal of locally processing 50% of its annual cashew nut production by 2030.
PAAC has outlined ambitious plans to expand the unit’s capacity to 150,000 tonnes per year in subsequent phases, aiming to capitalize on the region’s rich agricultural resources.
The Bagoué region, known for its substantial contribution to the national cashew nut harvest, accounts for at least 10% of the country’s total production, projected to exceed 1 million tonnes annually.
“This processing unit has already generated 5,000 direct and indirect jobs,” stated a press release from the Ivorian government, highlighting its immediate socio-economic impact.
The facility is expected to triple its workforce to 16,000 individuals in the long term, providing significant employment opportunities and fostering economic growth in the region.
In a broader strategic context, the inauguration of this processing unit aligns with Côte d’Ivoire’s industrial development goals.
Recently, Cashew Coast, Cote D’Ivoire’s agri-food company, secured US$9.7 million in mezzanine debt financing from the UK-based investor AgDevCo in a bid to double the company’s processing capacity to 19,000 tons and address some of the industry’s pressing challenges.
Côte d’Ivoire produces around 1 million tons of cashew nuts annually but currently processes less than 30% of this output locally. The government’s target is to increase this to 50% by 2025.
The country aims to process 320,000 tonnes of cashew nuts in 2024 alone, representing 25% of the anticipated national production of 1.2 million tonnes for the year.
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