The Ondo State government has said it will inaugurate a premium quality cocoa beans factory in the state by April next year.
Speaking with journalists in Akure on Friday, in company with the Chairman, Ondo Cocoa Revolution project, Dr. Jibayo Oyebade, the state’s Commissioner for Information, Mr. Kayode Akinmade, stated that the factory would utilise the facilities of the Cocoa Catalytic Factory in Idanre.
As stated by him, the factory would be operated by the state’s Cocoa project’s foreign technical partner, Spagnvola Chocolatier of Spain, and would have the capacity to produce enough for local consumption and for export.
In the same vein, the Cocoa Revolution Chairman, Oyebade, stated that the government had identified the Cocoa Catalytic factory at Idanre suitable for chocolate factory in the state, maintaining that it would soon become operational.
He said: “By the grace of God, there will be functional chocolate factory in Ondo State by April next year. The factory will utilise and process Cocoa bean produced in the state and our technical partner is an internationally recognised chocolatier, which is an expert in the field.
“We intend to invite the officials of the Ministry of Commerce to come and take inventory of the machines at the Catalytic factory in Idanre. There is already a factory there that we can put in proper shape this year.”