The Minister of Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Otunba Richard Adeniyi Adebayo CON, has stated that Nigeria would continue to benefit from International Cocoa Organization’s (ICCO) major global developmental projects.
Adebayo disclosed this when he received the Executive Director of International Cocoa Organization (ICCO), Michel Arrion, in his Office, Abuja.
He further revealed that ICCO was established in 1972/73 under the auspices of the United Nations to supervise and coordinate policy in the country.
“Nigeria has benefited greatly from major development projects from ICCO since inception, stressing that these projects produce positive efforts in the Nigeria’s cocoa sector, explaining that some of these projects which includes; integrated management of cocoa pests and pathogens, capacity building on price rise management strategy for cocoa smell hinders in Africa”. Adebayo added.
The Minister assured the Executive Director of ICCO that Nigeria is making frantic efforts to ensure that it has paid its contributions as of when due in order to continue to benefit from other valuable projects available from the organization.
Earlier, the Executive Director, International Cocoa Organization (ICCO), Michel Arrion said his organization wanted to see Nigeria contributing significantly to the development of cocoa in Africa, stressing that there is huge opportunity in the investment of cocoa value chain.
Arrion disclosed that Africa processed over 80% of cocoa globally but lamented that only 20% consumed in Africa.
He encouraged Africa and most especially Nigeria to improve its consumption level of the product, as the world economy of cocoa is a success story and there are a lot of industrial demands of it.
He further revealed that his organization is mending its legal processes, transformation, implementation of youth empowerment and increasing foreign earning to Africa.
He also assured the Minister that the ICCO would continue to improve on its relationship with Nigeria.
Ahmed Lawan Danbazau
CIO
For: Head, Press and Public Relations Unit
