Kumasi, March 17, GNA - A Cocoa processing factory is to be established at Asante Asokore near Effiduase in the Ashanti region. The factory, which is to be established by a consortium of international investors, will initially process 25,000 tonnes of cocoa beans annually and employ hundred workers.

Nana Professor Krobea Asante, Asokorehene, disclosed this to newsmen in Kumasi on Wednesday after leading a delegation of the investors to pay a courtesy call on the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu 11 at the Manhyia palace in Kumasi.

The investors are from the Petra Foods Limited from Singapore, PM Duyvis Company from the Netherlands and their local partner, Mr K.B. Nyantakyi-Owusu, Chairman of Natural Resources Development and Marketing Company.

Nana Prof. Asante said the factory, which would be equipped with modern and sophisticated machines would process cocoa beans into various products for export and the local market.

He explained that, the Singaporean company would be the technical and managerial partners to run the factory while the Netherlands company, which produces machines for cocoa processing would bring the necessary equipment to start the factory.

Nana Prof. Asante said the investors had already shown due diligence in the establishment of the factory, adding that, establishing the factory at Asokore was a result of its proximity to the Boankra inland port.

Mr Nyantakyi-Owusu on his part said the factory, which would commence production next year would provide social infrastructure and services to the community.