• Côte d’Ivoire opens $56.4M cocoa plant in Divo, adding 36,000-ton capacity.• Aims to process 100% of cocoa locally by 2030; 44% processed in 2024.• Processed exports earned $2.67B in 2023 vs. $3.5B from raw beans. Côte d’Ivoire has inaugurated a new cocoa processing plant in Divo, a project valued at 32 billion CFA francs ($56.4 million). The new complex, named Cacao...

• Africa to lead global pulses market by 2034, with per capita consumption topping 12 kg (OECD–FAO).• Production to grow by 900,000 tons annually, reaching 25% of global output.• Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Niger among top producers; growth driven by nutrition demand and smallholder farms. Africa will become a leader in the global pulses market over the next decade, according to the latest...

MTN Uganda, MTN Mobile Money and the Uganda Hotel Owners Association signed an MoU on 1 August 2025 to digitise operations across more than 780 hotels nationwide. The partnership will integrate mobile money payments, provide guest Wi-Fi and deploy cloud-based hotel management platforms to improve efficiency and reduce cash reliance. MTN Mobile Money revenue rose to 1.1 billion dollars...

• Ghana will introduce a scholarship program for children of cocoa farmers starting in 2026.• COCOBOD will manage the initiative, with first awards set for the 2026/2027 academic year.• The program aims to reduce school dropout rates and support rural families in cocoa areas. The government of Ghana has announced a new university scholarship program for children of cocoa farmers. The...

• Ghana has set the 2025/2026 cocoa farmgate price at $5,040 per ton, up 62.5% year-on-year.• Cocoa farmers say the new rate still falls short of their demands due to rising costs.• The government will revive its free input distribution program to support producers. Ghana has raised the farmgate price of cocoa to $5,040 per ton for the 2025/2026 season, which will begin on August...

• New system will link banks, fintechs, and mobile operators in a single platform• Real-time transfers and payments to be available 24/7 across all channels• Platform aims to boost financial inclusion and reduce transaction costs West Africa will soon launch a regional Interoperable Instant Payments System (IIPS), connecting all licensed financial institutions in the West African Economic...

• Japan granted Burkina Faso $2.5M for food access under the K-R 2025 project.• Over 425,000 children face acute malnutrition amid ongoing crises.• The aid complements national food security efforts and Japan-Burkina Faso cooperation. Burkina Faso announced on Saturday, August 2, that it had received a grant of 1.4 billion CFA Francs, or about $2.5 million, from Japan. The funds...

In Africa, transportation can account for up to 45% of the cost of some goods. Most trade is conducted over land, and resolving bottlenecks at border crossings could significantly lower these expenses and improve access to products. In a report published on May 19, 2025, titled "Transport Connectivity for Food Security in Africa: Strengthening Supply Chains," the World Bank identified 20 border...

• Afreximbank announced $1.35B in financing for Nigeria’s Dangote refinery, part of a $4B syndicated deal.• The 650,000 bpd refinery has faced $3.65B in debt and a Fitch ratings withdrawal.• The funding supports operations and reinforces Afreximbank’s role in Africa’s industrial development. African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) announced a $1.35 billion...

• OCP will increase its TSP production to 7 million tonnes by end-2025.• The Moroccan group aims to add 9 million tonnes of total fertilizer capacity by 2028 through the SP2M program.• Morocco holds 73% of the world’s phosphate reserves, fueling OCP’s global dominance. OCP, the Moroccan phosphate giant, is stepping up its dominance in the global fertilizer market. The group, 95% owned...