Accra, Ghana – In a significant step toward transforming Africa’s cocoa industry, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat and the Côte d’Ivoire-Ghana Cocoa Initiative (CIGCI) have opened discussions on a strategic collaboration to unlock investment and boost value addition in the sector.

AfCFTA Secretary-General, H.E. Wamkele Mene, met with Mr. Alex Assanvo, Executive Secretary of CIGCI, in Accra to explore joint initiatives aimed at catalysing sustainable growth and resilience across the cocoa value chain. The meeting focused on leveraging the AfCFTA framework to create a more integrated, self-reliant, and value-driven cocoa economy for the continent.

The partnership aims to address long-standing challenges in the cocoa industry, including limited processing capacity, price volatility, and export dependency. Through collaborative action, both parties hope to stimulate intra-African trade, promote local manufacturing, and increase Africa’s share in the global chocolate market.

The AfCFTA-CIGCI dialogue underscores a growing momentum among African institutions to mobilise collective action for economic transformation. It is expected to pave the way for future frameworks and partnerships to drive sector-specific industrialisation under Africa’s single market.