Abidjan: Vice President of Cote d'Ivoire Tiemoko Meyliet Kone on Thursday expressed gratitude to China for its support during the inauguration of a cocoa processing industrial complex backed by Beijing. "I seize this opportunity to thank the Chinese government and congratulate the Coffee-Cocoa Council, as well as all partners that contributed to the success of this employment-creating project," Kone said.

According to Namibia Press Agency, Transcao, a cocoa complex located in the PK24 industrial park in northern Abidjan, is a collaboration between China and Cote d'Ivoire, the world's largest cocoa producer. The complex is built on a 21-hectare site and represents a total investment of 130 billion CFA francs (231.71 million U.S. dollars).

The project is a result of a commercial agreement between Cote d'Ivoire's Coffee-Cocoa Council and China Light Industry Nanning Design Engineering Co., Ltd. Transcao includes a cocoa processing plant with a capacity of 50,000 tons and a training center for the cocoa and chocolate trades. This initiative aims to enhance local skills and improve youth employability, having already created 1,400 jobs.

Kobenan Kouassi Adjoumani, minister of state and minister of agriculture and rural development, highlighted the significance of the industrial unit in promoting high-quality finished products. He emphasized that the training center serves as a catalyst for change by training professionals committed to promoting local and regional consumption, ensuring a sustainable future for the cocoa sector. Adjoumani noted that Transcao aligns with the government's vision to transform the national economy by strengthening the cocoa supply chain.