INTERVIEW: Emerging Cameroonian Cocoa Producer GIC PPLAC Plans Foray in Cocoa Export Market.

12 November 2009 - The world's fifth largest cocoa producer - Cameroon - is expecting to boost its record 2008/2009 season output by a further 9% in the forthcoming 2009/2010 season at 229,000 tons.

At the same time, the Cameroon government is also carrying out a series of modernisation and industry support measures to improve the nation's cocoa quality with a view to secure a large production boost in the years to come.

In addition Cameroon has increased its presence in the international market as the country exported 178,592 tons of cocoa beans during the 2008/09 season, up 10% from the previous season.

Accounting for 2.8% of the country's total cocoa exports with 5,000 tons, GIC PPLAC LTD, a company headquartered in Mutengene, near Douala, is planning to play a key role in the growing Cameroon cocoa industry.

As an exporter and a producer, GIC PPLAC benefits from an established presence within the sector. The company owns 400 hectares of land on which it not only cultivates cocoa beans, but also maize, bananas and other fruits. With its current workforce of 215, GIC PPLAC also buys its cocoa from smaller holders. The company claims it owns the largest cocoa plantation in Cameroon and perhaps the largest in the whole of West and Central Africa.

More significantly, GIC PPLAC recently obtained its export license and exporters code from the National Cocoa and Coffee Board, which enabled the company to sell beyond its local market and claim its 2.8% share of the cocoa export market.

The firm has already started to focus on strategies to grow that share.

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The company will be boosting its annual production capacity and will be hoping to be able to cater for new customers during the next season and improve its 2008/2009 turnover of 5.5 billion CFA francs (approximately 12.8 million euro).

Just like its home nation, GIC PPLAC expects to benefit from the current global cocoa market scenario.

For instance, the current cocoa situation in the Ivory Coast (the world's largest cocoa producer) can be viewed as an opportunity for Cameroon and for the company, with proof coming from the price per kilo of cocoa in Cameroon, which has never been as high as it is at the moment, argues Blaise.

What's more the high global cocoa price in general is enabling GIC PPLAC to sell its cocoa to exporters at prices the company had never been able to obtain beforehand.

Besides the current market conditions, GIC PPLAC has other feathers in its cap.

In tandem with the National Cocoa and Coffee Board, the company is, along with other players, attempting to establish a cocoa producers' club with a view to maximise export quantities. However, this will be made possible as soon as an international buyer is found.

Besides, Blaise believes that his company is rather immune to the signs of "social unrest" in his country.

"We have never had to deal with strikes or armed robbery because we have taken preventive measures. We treat our personnel fairly and provide them with access to schools, medical centres. The GIC PPLAC worker's is also above the sector's average wage. We also have our own security service".

Blaise does admit though that his company could do with better performing lorries, better road infrastructure and improve transportation costs. However, the company is working towards a better delivery system and may soon obtain government subsidies to improve its overall infrastructure.