As the world’s leading producer of cashew nuts, Côte d’Ivoire now intends to process its “grey gold” within its borders. To achieve this, the government is focusing on creating a favorable investment environment and encouraging the establishment of processing plants as close as possible to the production areas.
In Tombougou, in the department of Boundiali, this desire is materializing with the establishment of PAN Agro Africa Commodities (PAAC), an industrial unit specializing in the processing of cashew nuts.
With a processing capacity of 50 tonnes per day, the factory currently processes nearly 30,000 tonnes of cashew nuts per year. This capacity can reach 45,000 tonnes per year when the season is fully supplied.
But beyond the volumes processed, cashew processing primarily generates opportunities for the people of the region.
For Cissé Aminata, an employee at the factory, the income from her work allows her to meet the needs of her home and family. “With the money I earn here, I manage to get by and take care of my needs,” she says.
Alassane Traoré is a technician. He testifies to the opportunities offered to young people in the region: “The factory allowed us to find work locally and, for many, to go from unemployment to employment.”
This impact was confirmed by Moïse Tapsoba, director of PAAC, who reported 400 direct jobs and 1,500 indirect jobs generated by the activity. “The establishment of the factory allows us to utilize the local workforce. Today, young women, older women, everyone can work. They are doing something with their hands, they have an activity, and thus contribute to local development,” he stated.
The Boundiali project reflects the growth of local cashew processing in Côte d’Ivoire. According to the 2026-2030 National Development Plan (PND), the local processing rate increased from 12.2% in 2020 to 36.4% in 2024. The sector now has 29 operational factories generating over 14,000 direct jobs. The government intends to continue this growth, aiming to increase cashew nut processing to 70% by 2030.