PM Yang Briefed on Local Chocolate Company

The Director General of the local chocolate producing company, IM. SO.FER. SA, Giovanni Schettino, yesterday, February 7, 2013 briefed the Prime Minister, Head of Government, Philemon Yang on the activities of his company whose Yaounde-based factory employs over 200 people. The company, started in 2005, is the branch of the Italian chocolate producing Ferrero Group.

Giovanni Schettino disclosed after the audience that the company would want to build a bigger factory in 2013. Ferrero Group which is the fourth largest cocoa buyer in the world, has factories in South Africa, Cameroon and India. The Director General of its Cameroonian branch, said the group is committed to improving the living conditions of people in areas where it operates. This is done through training, providing employment and support to social initiatives that promote good healthcare and education for children.

The group sets aside a social fund every year for each country in which it operates for support to social enterprising. Concerning training, the group has been training cocoa farmers in the Centre Region of Cameroon on better ways of producing standard and quality cocoa.

Prime Minister Yang, reportedly saluted the efforts of the chocolate company. This is because the local processing of cocoa into chocolate ties with country's vision of attaining an emergence status by 2035.