(Hello Africa) Chinese-built plant helps upgrade cocoa industry in Cote d'Ivoire

Amid the PK24 Industrial Park in Abidjan, the Cote d'Ivoire's economic capital, stands a sleek silver-gray structure -- a newly built cocoa processing complex, where the rich aroma of roasted beans wafts through the air. Constructed by a Chinese company, the complex is scheduled for official handover this month.

ABIDJAN, June 11 (Xinhua) -- As the rainy season brings a welcome hint of cool relief to Cote d'Ivoire, a hive of activity is unfolding at the PK24 Industrial Park on the northwestern outskirts of Abidjan, the country's economic capital, marked by long queues of cocoa-laden trucks and the bustling movement of workers.

Amid the park stands a sleek silver-gray structure -- a newly built cocoa processing complex, where the rich aroma of roasted beans wafts through the air. Inside, Chinese engineers work with their Ivorian counterparts, fine-tuning conveyor systems in preparation for the factory's full-scale operation.

Constructed by China Light Industry Nanning Design Engineering Co., Ltd., the complex is scheduled for official handover this month. As Cote d'Ivoire's first state-owned modern cocoa processing facility, it marks a major milestone in the country's drive to upgrade its cocoa industry and move higher up the global value chain.

"We're finally processing cocoa on our own land," said Ettien Kouakou Camille, his face glowing with pride. At 32, Camille cultivates more than 10 hectares of cocoa farmland and has spent more than a decade growing the Forastero variety. With the new facility in place, he hopes the premium beans from his hometown can now be transformed into high-value products.

"In the past, cocoa was exported without being processed. Now, Chinese companies are helping us change that," Camille said, emphasizing the importance of this project born from China-Cote d'Ivoire cooperation.

Covering about 21 hectares, the complex is designed to process 50,000 tonnes of cocoa annually, with a storage capacity of 140,000 tonnes. Tang Chong, project manager of the processing plant, said the facility was built to Chinese technological and quality standards and will serve as a key training base for local cocoa industry professionals upon completion.

In the cocoa pre-treatment workshop, 38-year-old operator N'guessan Kouassi wiped the sweat from his brow while monitoring equipment data with his team.

"This is the largest state-owned cocoa processing plant in the country. It's giving more young people access to employment and a chance to contribute to society," he said, adding that he hopes more Chinese companies will invest in Cote d'Ivoire to expand opportunities for both agricultural growth and youth employment.

For Ogbonin Emmanuel, a translator on the project with a background in construction, the experience has been eye-opening. "I've witnessed the whole transformation process from cocoa to chocolate. Africa needs this kind of advanced production capacity," he said.

In the electrical installation section, technician Joel Niamien led his team through final adjustments. "There were some language barriers in the beginning, but now we work in close coordination," he said. "The equipment is more modern, and the processes are more streamlined."

"China's agricultural development experience is a vital reference for African countries," said Kobenan Kouassi Adjoumani, minister of state and minister of agriculture and rural development of the country, at the recently concluded seventh edition of the International Exhibition of Agriculture and Animal Resources.

He noted that Cote d'Ivoire is currently at a key stage of agricultural modernization. "Chinese companies are not just building factories -- they are bringing integrated solutions to help us upgrade our agricultural value chains," Adjoumani said.

As the world's largest producer and exporter of cocoa, Cote d'Ivoire accounts for roughly 40 percent of global supply. In 2024, national cocoa output reached around 2 million tonnes, of which over 1.4 million tonnes were exported as raw beans. Yet only about 30 percent of the crop is currently processed domestically. Currently, the country hosts around 15 large-scale cocoa processing plants, most of them foreign-owned.

Cote d'Ivoire is now accelerating its efforts to achieve 100 percent local processing by 2030. As part of the push, the government is planning reforms to the cocoa purchasing system, including the introduction of traceable farmer ID cards to better protect the rights of cocoa growers.

Back at the PK24 Industrial Park, Chinese and Ivorian technicians were refining the production systems as the facility nears full operational readiness. The facility, a symbol of bilateral cooperation, is poised to help shift Cote d'Ivoire's role from a raw cocoa exporter to a significant player in cocoa processing.

At the Port of Abidjan, shipping containers filled with cocoa products stand neatly arranged, ready for export. Gazing out over the sea, Camille said with quiet determination, "Next, we want the world to fall in love with chocolate made in Cote d'Ivoire." ■