The Chocolat Rouge chocolate manufacturing plant, built by French entrepreneur Olivier Bordais in Nkol Melen on the outskirts of Obala in Cameroon’s Centre region, is expected to begin production no later than early in the second quarter of 2026.
The timeline was confirmed during a site visit on January 28 by the ministers of Trade and Agriculture. Construction of the 3,000-square-meter plant began on May 31, 2024, representing a total investment of approximately €1.5 million (CFA1 billion).
The agro-industrial unit plans to produce premium chocolate bars for international markets, helping Cameroon diversify its cocoa-based products by moving further into value-added processing.
Cameroon has ranked among the world’s top 10 exporters of cocoa paste and cocoa butter since 2024, according to the Competitiveness Committee, a think tank under the Ministry of Economy. The Chocolat Rouge project is expected to strengthen the country’s position in the global cocoa market while supporting local economic development.
