Cameroon-France Trade Relations:

Brighter horizons for Cameroon Cocoa sector

A delegation of French industrialists is in Cameroon to carry out prospection in the Cocoa sector. Trade Minister, Luc MagloireMbargaAtangana on Monday 14 August 2017, received the French delegation in audience, just after the French men ended a working session with stakeholders in the Cameroon Cocoa and Coffee sector.

By Our Economy Correspondent

Meeting in the conference hall of the ministry of trade, Yaounde, The French industrialists of the chocolate sector during the working session with their Cameroonian counterparts pledged their total determination and readiness to help Cameroon to produce the best quality cocoa possible. They reiterated the pledge during their audience with the trade minister, Luc MagloireAtanganaMbarga.

                The meetings in Yaounde were held not before the French delegation had visited some cooperatives and the Excellence Centres for the Treatment of Harvested Cocoa set up by the Inter-professional Council of Cocoa and Coffee-CICC, of the National Cocoa and Coffee Board-ONCC.

                Visibly impressed by what they saw on the field, the French industrialists in the domain of Cocoa and Coffee did not conceal their enthusiasm to federate forces with their Cameroonian counterparts.

                They expressed satisfaction with the good practices observed on the field. Their satisfaction was all the more when they discovered the “good fermented” cocoa churned out by the cooperatives and excellence centres and which is in high demand by chocolate producing companies.

                “What you see on the field is thanks to our insistence and follow-up for the professionalization of the sector. Here, we insist on good practices that permit for the production of «well fermented» Cocoa.  This professionalization policy is sustained by yearly campaigns for “well fermented” Cocoa, instituted by the CICC,” Minister MbargaAtangana told the visitors, recalled that the 2017/2018 cocoa season was launched only weeks ago.

                He noted also that thanks to the excellence centres set up by the CICC, producers and stakeholders in the cocoa/coffee sector have been able to master the quality production chain.

                The two three-day working visit (from 13 to 15 August) of the French Master Chocolate Producers was therefore aimed to lay down the groundwork towards a more fruitful collaboration with Cameroonian producers.

                Apart from boosting production and exportation of high-grade cocoa, the collaboration also envisages the setting up of artisanal units for transformation of cocoa into chocolate, the transformation and exportation of semi-finished cocoa and the promotion of Cameroon Cocoa on the world market.

                «This visit of the French Cocoa and Chocolate industrialists marks a turning point in Cameroon-France trade relations in the domain of cocoa and coffee. It is a capital stage in the collaboration between Cameroonian inter-professional organizations and the Confederation of French Chocolate producers represented here by Ms. Daniel Mercier and AlaxandreBellion,” remarked Minister MbargaAtangana, who informed that the two parties will in the days ahead sign a memorandum of understanding and draw a calendar of activities to be carried out jointly with the Cameroon government.

                “The Cameroon government has elaborated a strategy which consists in locally transforming at least 40% of its cocoa produce this, with the objective to better the lives of local farmers,” Minister Atangana said, noting that the new collaboration proposed by the French investors is timely as it ties squarely with this policy of the Cameroon government.

                For his part, the head of the French delegation, Daniel Mercier               noted that: “Both parties will forge a collaboration that will enable them to develop transformed products of good quality.” He said the outcome of this very fruitful meeting will be echoed by the French Press.

                For his part, the SG of the College of Cameroonian Cocoa Producers, Dr. Balleba, could not conceal his joy and optimism for the success of the collaboration: «You can rest assured, we will be up to the challenge; all conditions have been met for producers to ameliorate quality,” he reassured, adding that: «If you can help us to realize our dreams you can be sure that we will also help you to realize your dream of having cocoa of acceptable quality.”

                As for the DG of the Cameroon Cocoa and Coffee Board, Ndoping Michael, the visit of the French chocolate producers has afforded Cameroonian producers much-needed savoire-faire. He said with the knowledge gained, Cameroonian cocoa producers will be able to improve the quality of produce destined for export.

Ndoping expressed the hope that Cameroonian cocoa will get needed value-added thanks to the transformation units that would be set up.

                Apollinaire Ngwe, President of the executive committee of CICC also thanked the French investors for accepting to share their rich experience with Cameroonian producers and marketers.

                It should be recalled that the CICC was created by presidential decree in 1991, following the liquidation of the defunct National Produce Marketing Board NPMB.