BRANDNEWS
Cargill’s $13m expansion of cocoa processing plant completed
Cargill has completed $13 million (£9.7 million) expansion of its cocoa processing facility in Tema, Ghana, expanding the company’s cocoa-grinding capabilities.
T
he multi-million-dollar investment took 16 months to complete and increased the plant’s grind capability by 20%,
bolstering its annual production capacity to 90,000 tonnes. The initial nameplate capacity of 65,000 tonnes was pushed to 75,000 tonnes through the efficient management by the Ghanaian team, giving room for this expansion. The facility upgrades will support hundreds of new direct and indirect jobs. This latest investment is the culmination of Cargill’s 13 years of operational presence in Ghana, during which the direct and indirect employment at the plant grew from 400 to 530. Cargill’s Harold Poelma
explained that the project, which was sparked by the growing global demand for cocoa, also supports the company’s long-term
commitment to continuously invest in the cocoa sector and create more opportunities within the value chain. He said: “This kind of
investment can serve as an engine to jump-start new economic activities. It is part of our ongoing effort to build sustainable, local agri-food businesses, diversify revenue streams and support a thriving cocoa sector.” The plant expansion project aligns with the government of Ghana’s vision to accelerate economic progress through agricultural industrialisation whilst improving the welfare of farmers and solidifying the country’s position as one of the world’s largest producers of cocoa. In recognition of the
achievement, the President of the Republic of Ghana, His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, attended the ceremony as the Special Guest of Honour and was
received by an executive team led by Harold Poelma, President of Cargill Cocoa & Chocolate. In his keynote address,
President of the Republic of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo- Addo, said: “I want to congratulate the management and staff for their significant contribution to the success of this company. “The commissioning of this
expansion today underscores the importance of the private sector to government’s industrial transformation programme.” He further reflected on the
impact that Cargill Cocoa & Chocolate has made in the country in creating a more sustainable cocoa sector and acknowledged that the plant expansion will present an avenue for economic development. He continued: “I’m of the firm
conviction that industrialisation of private sector development is a great opportunity to expand the
economy and create more jobs, particularly for our young people. I also believe that for this country to develop rapidly, there is the need for deliberate attempts to add value to our natural resources. “It is against this background
that I would like to commend Cargill for what they are doing in our cocoa sector.”
Speaking about the importance
of working with partners, Aedo van der Weij, Managing Director, Cargill Ghana, concluded: “Establishing close partnership with government agencies, technical partners and local community leaders enables us to make meaningful impacts in the communities where we do business. They share our vision and help guide our efforts in creating a sustainable cocoa supply chain. Working together, we can achieve far more than we ever could alone.”
“The commissioning of this expansion today underscores the importance of the private sector to government’s industrial transformation programme.”
KennedysConfection.com
Kennedy’s Confection December 2021
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