French agribusiness group SOMDIAA to invest CFAF 100 billion in Côte d’Ivoire’s sugar and maize sectors

French agribusiness group SOMDIAA will invest CFAF 100 billion ($170 million) over the next five years in Côte d’Ivoire through its subsidiary SUCAF-CI, following the signing of a new performance agreement with the Ivorian government aimed at expanding the country’s agro-industrial sector.

The investment program is designed to increase domestic sugar production, strengthen Côte d’Ivoire’s alcohol industry and develop a new maize value chain, marking a significant step in SOMDIAA’s strategy to diversify its operations in the West African country.

SUCAF-CI is Côte d’Ivoire’s leading sugar producer, supplying more than 120,000 tonnes of sugar annually under its "Princesse Tatie" brand. The company has continued to expand its integrated agro-industrial model by investing in downstream processing activities.

Earlier this year, SUCAF-CI commissioned a new distillery with an annual production capacity of 12 million liters of extra-neutral alcohol. The facility converts molasses, a by-product of sugarcane processing, into industrial alcohol, adding value to the company’s sugar operations.

The new investment plan also includes the development of a maize-processing project modeled on SOMDIAA’s operations in Cameroon, where maize is transformed into grits, flour and animal feed products. The initiative is expected to strengthen local agricultural value chains while reducing dependence on imported processed products.

The investment aligns with Côte d’Ivoire’s National Development Plan (PND) 2026–2030, which places agro-industrial transformation, food security and private sector investment at the center of the country’s economic strategy.

By expanding its footprint in sugar, alcohol and maize processing, SOMDIAA aims to support local value addition, create jobs and contribute to the country’s long-term agro-industrial competitiveness.