Côte d’Ivoire’s National Investment Bank (BNI) will make 300 billion CFA francs ($530 million) available to finance operators in the country’s coffee and cocoa sector during the 2026-27 marketing campaign, the bank said.

The funding package represents a 6% increase from the 284 billion CFA francs mobilised during the previous campaign and is intended to help companies and other industry players meet their working-capital and input-financing needs.

The main cocoa marketing season is scheduled to open on Sept. 1, 2026, one month earlier than in previous years. The earlier opening comes as the world’s largest cocoa producer faces changing conditions in international markets and weaker cocoa prices.

BNI said the financing will also support investment in modern equipment, as well as drying and storage infrastructure, with the aim of improving productivity, product quality and processing capacity across the value chain.

BNI Chief Executive Officer Youssouf Fadiga said the increase in financing was designed to reach more operators and strengthen the competitiveness of the sector.

Côte d’Ivoire is the world’s leading cocoa producer, making the sector a key pillar of its economy and an important source of income for millions of farmers and other participants in the agricultural value chain.

The 300 billion CFA franc package is a financing facility rather than a government grant, and is expected to help maintain liquidity across the sector as the new marketing season gets under way.