US agribusiness firm Cargill has broken ground on a $100m cocoa processing facility in Gresik, in the East-Java region of Indonesia, a move which is expected to create approximately 200 new jobs.
According to Cargill, the new facility is being established in order to cater to the increasing demand for cocoa products and encourage the development of the Asian cocoa sector.
The facility, which is expected to be operational by mid-2014, will process approximately 70,000 tons of cocoa beans into a wide range of products for customers in the Asian market. These products will include cocoa liquor and butter, as well as Cargill's Gerkens cocoa powders.
It will be the company's first cocoa processing plant in Asia. Cargill noted that the new facility reflects its commitment to develop and grow the Asian cocoa industry, and will strengthen the company's Indonesian cocoa sourcing network and cocoa sustainability activities.
Cargill Cocoa & Chocolate president Jos de Loor said that the company has seen a significant growth in demand for cocoa products amongst its customers across the region.
"This investment will enable us to support the growth of the local cocoa sector, process local Indonesian beans and provide high-quality cocoa products to serve the growing needs of our customers in Asia," de Loor added.
Apart from the 200 jobs, the company will also create additional positions in its existing R&D application centers in Kuala Lumpur and Beijing as well as in its commercial network, which it is strengthening to better serve the needs of customers in Asia.
The new facility is part of the company's growth strategy in Indonesia's cocoa sector in line with its efforts to support long-term sustainable cocoa production globally, Cargill said.