The Nigerian state of Lagos plans to build three new cocoa processing factories by the end of 2025. Folashade Ambrose-Medebem, State Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Exchange and Investment, revealed this during the 2024 edition of the International Cocoa and Chocolate Forum (ICCF), held in Lagos last week.
According to information released by Nairametrics, these new units will each have a processing capacity of 10,000 tonnes per annum. This investment plan is part of a state strategy that aims to process around 40% of the local cocoa crop by 2025 and also includes the implementation of several training programs to strengthen the capacities of more than 20,000 small agricultural processing businesses and SMEs operating in the futures sector.
According to Ambrose-Medebem, the initiative also aims to leverage Lagos’ strategic geographic location to boost exports of high value-added products. In Nigeria, the cocoa industry generated $679 million in export revenue in 2022. Shipments of raw beans accounted for more than 80% of this export. [Da Redazione InfoAfrica]
© All rights reserved
Read our focus on the opportunities of the cocoa supply chain in Africa: