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, involving the Banque Nationale d’Investissement (BNI), the Conseil du Coton et de l’Anacarde (CCA), and local processors, marks a significant milestone in securing raw material supply for the country’s booming cashew industry.
Government-backed initiative unlocks industrial potential
Local operators have boldly invested in building and expanding processing plants, driving industrialization, adding value, and boosting the national economy. In a July 17, 2026 letter addressed to the Presidency, Vice-Presidency, Prime Minister Robert Beugré Mambé, the Minister of Industry, BNI, and CCA, GTCI President Denis Kouadio expressed deep appreciation for the innovative funding mechanism. This system addresses critical challenges faced by Ivorian processors, including securing raw nut supplies, optimizing transformation yields, and accessing substantial financing within the tight commercialization window.
How the financing model works
The agreement establishes a two-tier support system:
- The CCA guarantees early-season access to 20% of the required raw cashew nuts for national processors.
- The BNI provides financing for the remaining 80%, covering working capital needs for industrial operations and export activities.
GTCI Chairman Kouadio highlighted the transformative impact of this initiative, emphasizing its role in strengthening local processing capacity, ensuring industrial supply chains, and improving access to critical capital for businesses across the country.
Key stakeholders behind the initiative
The success of this program reflects coordinated efforts among national leaders and institutions. Kouadio specifically acknowledged the pivotal contributions of 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 CEO Youssouf Fadika, and BNI Deputy CEO Jérôme Ahua. Their collaboration has resulted in a forward-thinking financing structure designed to sustain and empower local investors in the cashew sector.
Côte d’Ivoire’s cashew ambitions
As the world’s leading producer of raw cashew nuts—with an annual output of approximately 1.5 million tonnes—Côte d’Ivoire operates 37 processing plants boasting a combined capacity of over 830,000 tonnes. With a 43% local processing rate, the country ranks second among global cashew kernel exporters and holds the third position worldwide as a processed cashew manufacturer, according to 2025 data from the International Trade Centre.
The nation has already achieved remarkable growth in raw cashew production. Now, it is doubling down on local transformation to retain greater value within its borders, strengthen industrial infrastructure, and generate more jobs for its citizens.
Future expansion into cocoa processing
The innovative financing model, designed to nurture national champions in local cashew processing, is now being evaluated for potential adaptation to the cocoa sector. The goal is to extend similar support to local cocoa processors, further amplifying Côte d’Ivoire’s industrial and economic ambitions.
