The Cameroon government has launched the construction of a chocolate factory in Obala, center region, estimated to cost 1.5 million euros (close to FCFA 1 billion).
The project was initiated by French businessman, Olivier Bordais, a reputable chocolate producer.
The foundation stone for the factory construction was laid May 31 by the Minister of Trade, Luc Magloire Mbarga Atangana, and the Minister of Agriculture, Gabriel Mbairobe.
The factory will be constructed on a 3,000-square-meter land by the company Sas Manta, headed by Olivier Bordais, a French investor who has picked interest in investing in Cameroon.
The factory, named Chocolat Rouge, will offer high-quality chocolate and boost the local manufacturing industry as part of the government’s import substitution policy which promotes made-in-Cameroon, the Ministry of Trade said.
“Indeed, this bold initiative positions the country not only as an exporter of high-quality finished products, but also opens doors to regional and international markets, including in the African Continental Free Exchange Zone,” Magloire Mbarga Atangana said.
“For cocoa producers of the Lékié basin, this chocolate factory represents much more than just a commercial opportunity. It’s a symbol of valuing their hard work, offering a short and sustainable circuit model that advocates shared profitability and social sustainability,” he added.
The factory project was unveiled after the Cameroon Cocoa Festival, which took place in Yaounde from May 29 to 31, with 13 countries participating.
Cocoa production witnessed a decline in Cameroon and other top producing countries like Ghana and Ivory Coast, driving up prices to a remarkable FCFA 4,900 per kilogram.
