The Groupement des Transformateurs de Cajou Ivoiriens (GTCI), representing national processors handling 100,000 tonnes of raw cashew nuts annually, has welcomed a landmark financing agreement signed on June 11, 2026. The deal unites the Banque Nationale d’Investissement (BNI), the Conseil du Coton et de l’Anacarde (CCA), and local processors to strengthen the cashew value chain.

Local operators have taken bold steps by investing their own capital to build and expand processing facilities, driving industrialization, adding value, and boosting the national economy. In a letter dated July 17, 2026, addressed to the Presidency, Vice-Presidency, Prime Minister Robert Beugré Mambé, the Vice Prime Minister, the Industry Minister, the BNI, and the CCA, GTCI President Denis Kouadio expressed deep appreciation to all authorities and institutions involved in creating this innovative financing mechanism.

Breaking through financing barriers in cashew processing

The new tripartite agreement directly addresses critical challenges faced by Ivorian processors, including securing sufficient raw cashew supplies, improving processing efficiency, and accessing large-scale financing. Most importantly, it provides crucial support during the peak commercialization season when processors must rapidly acquire raw nuts to operate their plants throughout the year.

For the GTCI, this agreement marks a major milestone for the sector. It is expected to strengthen local transformation capacity, guarantee steady raw material supply for industrial units, and improve access to financing for processors.

A structured financing model to empower local industry

The financing mechanism operates as follows: at the start of each season, the CCA ensures that local processors receive 20% of their required raw cashew volumes. The BNI then finances the remaining 80%, including working capital needs for production and export operations.

Denis Kouadio, GTCI President, highlighted the pivotal role played by key public figures in making this financing model a reality. Among them are Vice Prime Minister Téné Birahima Ouattara, Industry and Commerce Minister Khalil Konaté, Economy and Finance Minister Adama Coulibaly, CCA Director General Mamadou Berté, BNI CEO Youssouf Fadika, and BNI Deputy CEO Jérôme Ahua. Their coordinated efforts led to the creation of this innovative and sustainable financial tool designed to support national investors in the cashew sector.

Expanding success: from cashew to cocoa transformation?

The success of this program—developed to nurture national champions in local cashew processing—now opens new opportunities. Discussions are already underway to adapt this financing model to the cocoa transformation sector, aiming to provide local cocoa processors with similar support.

Côte d’Ivoire leads global cashew production

As the world’s top producer of raw cashew nuts, with an annual output of approximately 1.5 million tonnes, Côte d’Ivoire operates 37 processing facilities with a combined capacity exceeding 830,000 tonnes. With a local processing rate of 43%, the country ranks as the second-largest exporter of cashew kernels globally and stands as the third-largest cashew processor worldwide, according to 2025 data from the International Trade Centre (ITC).

Having already achieved significant growth in raw cashew production, Côte d’Ivoire is now accelerating efforts to boost local transformation. The goal is to retain greater value within the country, strengthen industrial infrastructure, and generate more employment opportunities across the sector.