The construction of the Chocolat Rouge chocolate factory in Nkol-Melen, near Obala in Cameroon’s Centre Region, moved a step closer to production on Wednesday, 28 January 2026, following a joint inspection by the Ministers of Commerce and Agriculture. Trade Minister Luc Magloire Mbarga Atangana and Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Gabriel Mbaïrobe visited the site to assess progress on the cocoa-processing facility, which is expected to begin initial production in the coming months. The project forms part of Cameroon’s broader strategy to expand local agro-industrial transformation and strengthen the cocoa value chain.
The technical inspection was conducted in the presence of administrative authorities from the Lékié Division and led on site by Olivier Bordais, promoter of the project and head of the French company SAS MANTA. The visit focused on construction progress, equipment installation and the operational readiness of the complex, which is designed to produce premium chocolate branded “Made in Cameroon” for professional and export markets.
Officially launched in June 2024, the Chocolat Rouge project represents an estimated investment of nearly FCFA 40 billion. The complex occupies around 3,000 square metres on a three-hectare site and includes an ultra-modern factory that has now been fully constructed, alongside a three-storey residential building intended for company executives and technical staff. According to the promoter, construction is nearing completion, with remaining delays mainly due to logistical challenges linked to the delivery of specialised equipment.
“Everything is moving forward well. I think we will open the first production lines of Made in Cameroon chocolate within two months,” Olivier Bordais told the ministers during the visit. He added that the plant would already be operational were it not for equipment delivery constraints. The facility is designed to process locally sourced cocoa beans, particularly from cooperatives in the Lékié Division, thereby integrating producers more closely into the industrial value chain.
Government backing and national strategy alignment
The two ministers assured the promoter of the government’s support in resolving administrative and logistical bottlenecks, indicating that the relevant services would be mobilised to ensure the project enters its production phase on schedule. Speaking at the site, Trade Minister Luc Magloire Mbarga Atangana said the initiative aligns with a broader policy framework aimed at restructuring basic commodity sectors.
“This project has taken shape and has progressed well. We can only commend the promoter who believed in it and kept his word,” Mbarga Atangana said. While noting that the factory is a private initiative, he stressed that it fits squarely within the National Development Strategy 2020–2030, which prioritises local value addition, job creation and decentralised economic development. “We are in Obala. Few would have imagined an industrial facility of this scale here,” he added.
Chocolat Rouge is expected to focus on high-end chocolate products aimed primarily at professional outlets such as hotels, restaurants and specialised international chocolatiers. The project seeks to strengthen Cameroon’s position in the global cocoa sector by moving beyond bean exports to the production of finished and semi-finished goods. Cameroon is already internationally recognised for the quality of its cocoa, including fine-flavour varieties.
“We will produce chocolate of very high quality—chocolate of excellence that will be recognised worldwide. We want Cameroonian chocolate to be present on the finest tables around the world,” Olivier Bordais said. Beyond production, the factory is expected to create jobs, support skills transfer and professional training, and reinforce linkages between farmers’ cooperatives and industrial processors.
According to government officials, the Obala facility reflects ongoing efforts to promote import substitution and expand domestic processing capacity. With production expected to begin within months, the Chocolat Rouge project marks a new phase in Cameroon’s drive to capture greater value from its cocoa resources and strengthen its presence in regional and international chocolate markets.
Mercy Fosoh
