The Equatorial Guinean government recently hosted the President of the Cioccolato di Modica PGI Protection Consortium. The visit centered on cocoa production, with discussions positioning Equatorial Guinea as a potential strategic partner for the Consortium. The initiative could boost the country’s cocoa industry by promoting sustainable farming practices and ensuring compliance with EU regulations on deforestation-free supply chains.
A pivotal meeting in Malabo saw First Lady Constancia Mangue de Obiang welcome a delegation led by Salvatore Peluso, President of the Consortium. Talks focused on fostering agreements to support local producers and elevate Equatorial Guinean cocoa’s profile in global markets.
First Lady Mangue de Obiang underscored the importance of strengthening the agricultural sector, not only as an economic driver but also as a means to improve livelihoods and cement the country’s position in the international cocoa trade. The discussions outlined a modernization strategy spanning production, processing, and distribution, with the Cioccolato di Modica PGIConsortium poised to provide technical expertise.
“There is a strong possibility that Equatorial Guinea will become the first African nation to host a factory producing bitter cocoa paste,” said Peluso. “This product, destined for the Cioccolato di Modica PGI market, would mitigate price volatility, which has seen cocoa costs surge more than 120% over the past two years.”
As part of the initiative, officials proposed a twinning arrangement between Bata—the de facto political capital of Equatorial Guinea—and the Sicilian city of Modica, strengthening economic and cultural ties through the cocoa trade.
