Abidjan – Angolan president João Lourenço visited on Friday, in Abidjan, the Cemói-ci factory, dedicated to the production of chocolates and other Cocoa by-products.
The activity is part of the agenda of the official visit that the Angolan Head of State is paying since Thursday to Cotê d’Ivoire, as part of the efforts to re-launch cooperation between the two countries.
Established in Cotê d’Ivoire in 1997, the factory, a subsidiary of the French Cémoi, is located in the industrial zone of Yopougon, in Abidjan, and produces chocolate bars from cocoa harvested in the country.
Production volumes are still modest, since the country only transforms (mainly in the first phase of grinding) a third of its annual production, which is equivalent to two million tons.
However, the government reiterated in June its ambition to see, by 2025, at least 50% of local production be transformed in the country.
Cémoi's main success, which resulted from an investment of eight million euros, is demonstrating that it is possible to make a whole range of chocolate products on site.
Of the 70,000 tons of grains crushed annually, at least 10, 000 tons of chocolate are produced.
The factory employs a thousand people and mobilizes a network of 60,000 planters, generating around 230 million euros in turnover per year.
The majority of this production is exported to Europe, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Mali, Benin, Gabon and the Central African Republic.
The activity was penultimate on the agenda of President João Lourenço's visit to Côte d'Ivoire, who leaves this West African country Friday afternoon, after a meeting with the Angolans residing in the nation. ART/AMP
