Guinea-Bissau Targets Bigger Cashew Processing Industry

BISSAU, Guinea-Bissau — Guinea-Bissau is stepping up efforts to transform more of its raw cashew production locally, seeking to increase domestic value addition and strengthen one of the country's most important economic sectors.

The initiative gained momentum after Guinea-Bissau’s Trade and Industry Minister Jaimentino Có held discussions with Côte d’Ivoire's authorities in July to study the Ivorian model for cashew production and processing. The two sides agreed to work toward a technical cooperation framework.

The strategy could open new opportunities for processors, exporters and agricultural businesses in Guinea-Bissau, particularly if more raw cashews can be processed domestically instead of being exported with limited value added.

Cashew remains central to the country's economy. The IMF estimates that Guinea-Bissau exported about 211,400 tonnes of cashews in 2025, while strong private-sector investment has also been recorded in energy, transport and telecommunications.

The World Bank has identified productivity and private-sector development as important challenges, noting that Guinea-Bissau needs to create stronger conditions for businesses to invest and expand.

Greater investment in cashew processing could therefore help diversify business activity, create industrial jobs and increase the value Guinea-Bissau captures from its biggest agricultural export.