UK provides cocoa-processing machine to local producer in Solomon Islands
The UK provided a cocoa-processing machine to Solomon Islands social enterprise KOSI to boost local cocoa production, exports, and rural incomes.
On 9 October 2024, British High Commissioner Paul Turner officially handed over a new cocoa processing machine to Kokonut Pacific Solomon Islands (KOSI), a Honiara-based social enterprise established in 2004. The equipment aims to enhance KOSI’s capacity to process cocoa locally, enabling the production of chocolate paste and finished chocolate products. KOSI currently supports over 1,000 farmers nationwide by offering training, market access, and business opportunities that strengthen rural incomes and employment.
KOSI processes both coconuts and cocoa, acting as a vital link between local farmers and international markets. The company sources cocoa from village producers across Solomon Islands and has been nationally recognized for its contributions to agribusiness, exports, and community development. The new machine is expected to increase production efficiency, helping KOSI meet rising domestic demand while expanding exports to markets including the United Kingdom and New Zealand.
In recent years, the UK has deepened its engagement with Solomon Islands’ cocoa sector. In 2024, UK cocoa buyers visited the country to forge new partnerships with local producers. These efforts led to Solomon Islands cocoa being selected as the source ingredient for a new UK chocolate brand, Cocoa Sisters.
The UK also supported Solomon Islands cocoa producers and chocolate makers to showcase their products at the Amsterdam Chocoa Fair in February 2025, Europe’s largest cocoa trade event. The participation facilitated connections between Solomon Islands producers and potential buyers in the UK and across Europe, strengthening trade ties.