Government and industry players join forces to boost local cashew processing
The Groupement des transformateurs de cajou ivoiriens (GTCI), representing national processors handling 100,000 tons of raw cashew nuts annually, has applauded a landmark financing agreement signed on June 11, 2026. The deal was struck between the Banque nationale d’investissement (BNI), the Conseil du Coton et de l’Anacarde (CCA), and local processors to secure raw cashew supply for Ivory Coast’s industrial units.
Local operators have bet big on domestic processing by investing their own capital to build and expand processing plants. This initiative not only fuels the country’s industrialization but also enhances value addition and bolsters the national economy.
A formal letter dated July 17, 2026, addressed to the Presidency of the Republic, the Vice-Presidency, Prime Minister Robert Beugré Mambé, the Vice-Prime Minister, the Minister of Industry, the BNI, and the CCA, the GTCI—led by its president Denis Kouadio—expressed deep appreciation for the authorities and institutions behind this innovative financing mechanism. The system is designed to fund raw cashew procurement and cover processing costs for national operators.
The group highlighted the significance of this support amid challenges such as securing raw nuts, optimizing processing yields, and accessing substantial financing within tight commercialization windows. The short harvest season demands quick capital mobilization to acquire the raw materials needed to operate plants year-round.
The tripartite agreement marks a major milestone for Ivory Coast’s cashew sector. It is expected to reinforce local processing, ensure steady raw material supply for industries, and ease access to financing for operators.
How the financing mechanism works
The arrangement ensures that at the start of each season, the CCA supplies local processors with 20% of their raw cashew needs. The BNI finances the remaining 80%, covering both processing activities and working capital required for industrial operations and exports.
In a show of appreciation, the GTCI president commended key contributors to the initiative, including Vice-Prime Minister Téné Birahima Ouattara, Minister of Commerce and Industry Khalil Konaté, Minister of Economy and Finance Adama Coulibaly, CCA Director General Mamadou Berté, BNI Director General Youssouf Fadika, and BNI Deputy Director General Jérôme Ahua. Their collaboration enabled the creation of this sustainable financing model to support national investors.
Expanding the model to cocoa processing
The success of this program, which aims to nurture homegrown champions in local cashew processing, has sparked discussions about replicating the model in the cocoa sector. The goal is to extend similar financing support to cocoa processors, further strengthening Ivory Coast’s industrial base.
Ivory Coast: a global leader in raw cashew production
As the world’s top producer of raw cashew nuts, with an annual output of about 1.5 million tons, Ivory Coast hosts 37 processing plants boasting a total installed capacity of over 830,000 tons. With a local processing rate of 43%, the country ranks second among cashew kernel exporters and is the third-largest global processor, according to 2025 ITC data.
Having already ramped up raw cashew production, Ivory Coast is now focused on accelerating local processing. The aim is to retain more value within the country, strengthen its industrial fabric, and generate additional employment opportunities.