IVORY COAST – Four agro-industrial companies in Ivory Coast are set to benefit from the US$1.5 million project undertaken by Comoé Capital, in partnership with the German development agency, GIZ.

The initiative is part of a 3-year project aimed at supporting industries in the agri-food value chain through improving their incomes by establishing sustainable supply chains.

Launched in 2021, the Partnership for Growth and Employment in the Processing of Agricultural Products in Côte d’Ivoire (PACE) project, is set to support the selected organizations with technical and financial expertise.

Selected from different value chains, the four agro-industries include: – Rama Cereal evolving in processing of cereals; Ivoire Bio Fruits focused on production of certified organic dried fruits; E’sens undertakes manufacture of local essential oils; and Zatwa adds value to cassava and coconut.

According to the Ivorian impact investment fund, Comoé Capital, the companies were carefully selected for the quality of their agricultural transformation activities, their impact in improving the incomes and working conditions of small farmers and their ambitions and prospects for shared growth.

“As an investment company dedicated to financing SMEs in Côte d’Ivoire, agro-industry is a priority sector for Comoé Capital and farmers are at the heart of the success of our projects.

“Beyond a concrete impact on the organization and structuring of the farmers with whom the companies collaborate, the PACE project makes it possible to generate significant impacts through the creation of decent jobs.

“This project is an example of a partnership beneficial to all stakeholders in a context of food insecurity and supply difficulties,” said Issa Sidibé, Managing Director, Comoé Capital.

The project seeks to contribute significantly to the creation of jobs within the beneficiary companies, to the improvement of the incomes and living conditions of the workers and producers in rural areas.

Also, it seeks to increase the flow of commercial transactions and financial autonomy of beneficiary companies through innovative financial levers and impacts.

This will be achieved through professionalizing the management and operations; develop inclusive contracts between farmers and beneficiary companies; and professionalize agricultural practices and financial management of farmers for the planned companies.

Overall, the project aims to impact nearly a thousand producers, including 400 women, and to create 300 jobs in the agricultural sector in Ivory Coast.

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