Côte d’Ivoire strengthens local cashew processing with new financing deal

The Groupement des transformateurs de cajou ivoiriens (GTCI), representing national processors handling 100,000 tonnes of raw cashew nuts annually, has welcomed a groundbreaking financing agreement signed on June 11, 2026. The tripartite convention involves the Banque nationale d’investissement (BNI), the Conseil du Coton et de l’Anacarde (CCA), and local cashew processors, marking a significant step toward strengthening Côte d’Ivoire’s industrial capacity.

The initiative reflects the bold commitment of Ivorian operators who have invested their own capital to build and expand processing facilities, driving industrialization, value addition, and economic growth in the country’s cashew sector.

In a formal letter dated July 17, 2026, addressed to the Presidency, the Vice-Presidency, Prime Minister Robert Beugré Mambé, the Vice-Premier Minister, the Minister of Industry, the BNI, and the CCA, the GTCI’s president, Denis Kouadio, expressed deep appreciation to all authorities and institutions involved in establishing this innovative financing mechanism. The system is designed to support local processors in securing the raw cashew nuts they need while covering transformation costs throughout the year.

The GTCI underscored how critical this support is for Ivorian operators facing challenges such as raw nut procurement, transformation efficiency, and the urgent need for substantial financing. These operators must acquire large volumes of raw nuts within a short commercialization window to keep their factories running and meet annual processing demands.

For the GTCI, this landmark agreement represents a turning point for the industry. It is expected to enhance local processing, stabilize raw material supply for industrial units, and improve access to financing for processors nationwide.

Under the new arrangement, the CCA will guarantee the availability of raw cashew nuts covering 20% of processors’ annual needs at the start of each season. Meanwhile, the BNI will finance the remaining 80%, along with the working capital required for industrial operations and export activities.

The GTCI president also recognized the pivotal contributions of key officials who made this initiative possible, including Vice-Premier Minister Téné Birahima Ouattara, Minister of Commerce and Industry Khalil Konaté, Minister of Economy and Finance Adama Coulibaly, CCA Director General Mamadou Berté, BNI CEO Youssouf Fadika, and BNI Deputy CEO Jérôme Ahua. Their collaboration was instrumental in creating this sustainable financing model to support local investors.

The success of this program, tailored to nurture national champions in local cashew processing, now sets the stage for broader industry transformation. Discussions are underway to adapt the model for the cocoa sector, with the goal of offering Ivorian cocoa processors a similar financing mechanism.

As the world’s leading producer of raw cashew nuts—with an annual output nearing 1.5 million tonnes—Côte d’Ivoire operates 37 processing plants boasting a combined capacity of over 830,000 tonnes. With a local processing rate of 43%, the country ranks as the second-largest exporter of cashew kernels and the third-largest processor globally, according to ITC data from 2025.

Having already made strides in boosting raw cashew production, Côte d’Ivoire is now focused on accelerating local processing. The goal is to retain more value within the country, bolster industrial development, and generate additional employment opportunities.