While Côte d'Ivoire aspires to become an industrial giant in cashew nuts, the engine of this transformation is stalling. Today, thirteen Ivorian factories , representing an annual capacity of 150,000 tonnes , are trapped by the malfunctions of the CCA-BNI financing mechanism.

A device on its last legs

Launched four years ago by the Cotton-Cashew Council (CCA) and the Interministerial Council, this program was intended to propel "national champions." However, the results are alarming: of the initial fourteen processors, only six are still operating within the framework of the scheme.

The causes of this mass death toll have been identified:

1. Chronic delays: Funds are usually released in April or May, when the campaign is coming to an end and nut stocks are already depleted.
2. Lack of coordination: The absence of clear rules between stakeholders has weakened the most vulnerable structures.

The imbroglio of the “Framework Convention”

To stem the bleeding, a tripartite framework agreement was approved over a year ago by the Interministerial Council. This document provides visibility over three years and requires BNI to establish credit lines two months before the start of each campaign.

The sticking point: Although the CCA has already signed the document, the BNI still refuses to affix its signature, rendering the text obsolete and leaving manufacturers in total uncertainty.

Companies on the brink of collapse

The current situation is divided into two crisis fronts:

1. The "survivors" of the program: ( Ivory Cashew Nuts, Sita SA, Sobery, Foods'Co, Nord Cajou and Coprodigo ) are still waiting for the renewal of their credit lines, more than a month after the opening of the campaign (February 9).
2. Excluded from the system: Six other processors ( STNC, Ivoire Anacarde-Bozy, TINC, Cabel, Afrique Agri Industrie and Africajou ), weighing 80,000 tonnes of capacity, are left to their own devices to supply themselves with raw materials.

A muted reaction from the bank

When questioned on Monday, March 9, 2026, the BNI's communications department displayed a calm that contrasted sharply with the urgency of the situation on the ground. The institution stated that it was closely monitoring the matter, downplaying the seriousness of the situation by the lack of an official statement from the CEO: "If the seriousness of the facts were proven, the CEO would have already spoken out," they tersely declared.

In summary: Key figures of the blockade

Indicator	Data
Total capacity allocated	150,000 tonnes / year
Companies in difficulty	13 industrial units
Legal funding deadline	2 months before the campaign (not respected)
Convention status	Signed by the CCA, pending BNI approval

The stakes are now high: to save the massive investments made and to prevent Ivorian factories from becoming empty shells for the benefit of raw exports.