NEXIM Unveils Innovative Cocoa Trading Platform: Bridging Farmers and Buyers Across Africa
The Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM) leaps forward with the introduction of ‘cocoaconnectafrica.com,’ an innovative online platform fostering market connections among farmers, aggregators, and buyers within the cocoa value chain across Africa.
Abubakar Bello, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of NEXIM Bank, unveiled this groundbreaking initiative during the International Cocoa and Chocolate Forum 2024 in Lagos, with the portal’s inauguration conducted by Mrs Folashade Ambrose-Medebem, Lagos State Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperative, Trade, and Investment. Bello stressed the portal’s capacity to facilitate seamless interaction among stakeholders globally, transcending geographical barriers.
Emphasizing its universal accessibility from any device, Bello envisions the platform as an empowering tool, bringing individuals closer to their objectives throughout the cocoa ecosystem.
In a strategic move to foster connectivity within the cocoa value chain across Africa, the Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM) has launched an online platform, ‘ cocoaconnectafrica.com ‘ The platform aims to create robust market linkages among farmers, aggregators, and buyers involved in the cocoa industry. Abubakar Bello, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of NEXIM Bank, announced this milestone during the International Cocoa and Chocolate Forum 2024 in Lagos.
The portal, inaugurated by Mrs Folashade Ambrose-Medebem, the Lagos State Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperative, Trade, and Investment, offers a seamless space for stakeholders to interact globally. Bello emphasized its accessibility from any device worldwide, envisioning empowerment and enhanced collaboration throughout the cocoa ecosystem.
The portal’s key objectives include consolidating market and resource centers and providing a one-stop solution for stakeholders. Bello emphasized that the platform eliminates intermediaries, enabling buyers and processors to connect directly with farmers and aggregators.
Stakeholders in the cocoa sector can register and showcase their businesses on the portal, fostering direct communication.
Notably, buyers can easily identify the specific cocoa products they seek, streamlining the procurement process. The portal’s success has prompted plans for similar platforms dedicated to other agricultural produce, including cashews and more.
NEXIM’s commitment extends the benefits of this innovative tool to all participants within the agricultural value chain.
In essence, NEXIM’s ‘cocoaconnectafrica.com’ stands as a transformative force in the cocoa industry, breaking down geographical barriers and fostering collaboration among farmers, aggregators, and buyers across the African continent.
The portal’s inauguration marked a significant stride towards a more interconnected and efficient cocoa value chain. With its universal accessibility, the platform is poised to empower stakeholders and streamline interactions, setting a promising precedent for future advancements in agro-trading.
