Niche Cocoa Industry Limited, an indigenous cocoa processor based in Tema has been adjudged the exporter of the Year for 2013.
The company picked up the award at the 24th National Awards for Export Achievement.
Niche Cocoa is a local processing company that processes cocoa into cocoa liquor, cocoa butter, cocoa cake and also processes organic cocoa for export.
General Manager of Niche Cocoa Industry Limited Lloyd Ashiley tells Citi Business News the company hopes to commence production of chocolate for the Ghanaian market by the end of 2014.
Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA) Gideon Quarcoo, says the Authority is collaborating with other institutions to address the numerous challenges players in the industry face.
Meanwhile Niche Cocoa wants government to create more free zone enclaves for manufacturing, to increase value addition of raw materials before they are exported.
Ghana has failed over the years to add value to most of its raw materials including cocoa and gold.
General Manager in charge of Quality, Research, Development and Sourcing at Niche Cocoa, Paul Ayeh said this would help increase export earnings for the country.
“Value addition as a developing country is key to the overall development of the country. It has diverse advantages, it’s create employment and there are so many things the nation stands to gain. it is the wish of every Ghanaian that as much as possible we minimize the export of the raw cocoa beans and add value before export. What I think should be done is more free zone enclaves should be created with tax rebates for Ghanaians which will attract investors in to the industry.”
By: Norvan Acquah – Hayford/citifmonline.com/Ghana