IVORY COAST – Bolloré Transport & Logistics, a global player in the supply chain, has participated in the 8th National Cocoa and Chocolate Fair that took place from 30 September to 2 October 2022 in Abidjan.

The event brought together farmers, Ivorian government members, state institutions managing the cocoa sector, companies involved in the packaging, processing, and export of cocoa, and the general public

As a leader in the logistics of agricultural products and partner of the cocoa industry in Côte d’Ivoire, Bolloré Transport & Logistics took this opportunity to present its infrastructure dedicated to the storage of cocoa.

The company currently provides its customers with warehouses totaling 300,000 m2 in Abidjan and San Pedro and 3 modern loading stations.

It recently inaugurated the third and its newest cocoa loading station in San Pedro, southwest of the Ivory Coast following one billion CFA francs (US$1.6m) investment.

The fully automated and robotized facility is expected to boost its volume handling capacity of 30% to 50% of cocoa handled to date at the port of San Pedro, which remains the world’s leading cocoa export port.

In 2021, the company fashioned exports totaling 555,000 tonnes of cocoa and 240,000 tonnes of cocoa-derived products.

Bolloré also offers diversified services involving transport, logistics, management of the bean export process, as well as collateral management.

“Bolloré Transport & Logistics remains a committed player in the modernization of the cocoa sector in Côte d’Ivoire.

“Thanks to the expertise of our teams and our innovative storage infrastructure, we provide concrete solutions to our export customers’ logistical issues,” said Joël Hounsinou, Managing Director of Bolloré Transport & Logistics Côte d’Ivoire.

The company also highlighted it is committed to implementing eco-responsible logistics and conducts its operations with respect for stakeholders (customers, local populations, employees, subcontractors, public authorities, etc.) while monitoring the social rights of its staff and subcontractors.

Centered around the theme of “Local cocoa processing: opportunities for local chocolate producers”, the event was held as part of the opening of the 2022-2023 crop season.

In readiness for the new season, Ivory Coast has raised the fixed farmgate price paid to cocoa farmers by over 9% to 900 CFA francs (US$1.33) per kilogram from 825 CFA francs (US$1.25) for the main crop of the 2022/2023 season starting on Oct. 1.

The new season has also received financial backing from players such as National Investment Bank (BNI) has dedicated a line of credit of 186 billion CFA francs (US$278 million) to support exporters of coffee and cocoa in the country.

The facility will help thirty players active in the sector to obtain loans to finance their activities.

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