Madagascar aims to leverage its new international responsibility to strengthen its cocoa sector. On the occasion of World Cocoa Day, celebrated on October 1st, the country highlighted the prospects opened by its accession to the presidency of the International Cocoa Council for the 2026-2027 cocoa year. This role is held by Philippe Fontayne, Vice-President of the National Cocoa Council, who was elected during the session held in Abidjan from September 14 to 18, 2026.
For the Minister of Trade and Consumption, Haingotiana Andriamadison, this recognition comes at a time when Madagascar possesses several agricultural sectors with strong identities, notably vanilla, lychee, and cocoa. “Madagascar has several sectors that distinguish it, among which is cocoa,” he emphasized. Malagasy cocoa is particularly noted for its unique aromatic profile, which is recognized internationally.
This recognition is an asset for producers and operators in the sector. It can help increase the visibility of Malagasy cocoa among buyers, chocolatiers, and international partners. The goal is also to better promote local terroirs and the expertise of producers, while fostering access to new technical and financial partnerships.
In Madagascar, the National Cocoa Council is one of the structures responsible for reflecting on the future of this sector. Chaired by the Ministry of Trade and Consumption, it participates in defining and implementing strategies to improve cocoa production and marketing. “This structure defines, develops, and implements strategies to improve the sector,” the minister explained.
The stakes directly concern the living conditions of families who depend on this activity. Improving quality, modernizing production, research, traceability, and adapting to climate change are among the development paths. Local processing also represents a lever to create more jobs and retain a larger share of the value added in Madagascar.
The presidency of the International Cocoa Council thus offers the country an additional seat in exchanges between producing and consuming states. It allows Madagascar to participate more actively in discussions on markets, sector challenges, and the interests of producers.
However, this responsibility does not guarantee an automatic increase in cocoa prices or the immediate acquisition of funding. Its impact will depend on the projects undertaken, the partnerships forged, and the actions implemented. For Madagascar, the challenge now lies in transforming this international recognition into concrete results on the ground, particularly for producers, cooperatives, and companies in the sector.
Captured & Published at: 2026-10-02 06:26:01 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
Original Source: https://www.lexpress.mg/2026/10/exposition-madagascar-preside-le.html
