Following discussions between the Groupement des négociants ivoiriens (GNI, comprising 15 local stakeholders in the sector), the Groupement professionnel des exportateurs de café et de cacao de Côte d’Ivoire (GEPEX) and the Conseil café-cacao (CCC), it was decided that national companies would supply 60,000 tonnes of cocoa to local exporters and processors to enable them to continue their operations. This decision follows a note made public on 21 February, calling on the major chocolate firms to end the bidding war for « certified sustainable » cocoa so as not to drive local operators into bankruptcy (according to GNI, however, Sucso, one of Côte d’Ivoire’s main processors, has already closed down). However, these 60,000 tonnes represent only 40% of the actors’ needs, estimated at 150,000 tonnes, so negotiations are continuing between GEPEX and GNI on the remaining volume.