Ivory Coast, the world's leading cocoa producer, is planning to increase its internal cocoa processing to 49% of production by October. This is part of a government target to raise the current 35-40% local processing rate to at least 50%. The country has signed an agreement with the United Arab Emirates to build a new cocoa factory in San Pedro, with a grinding capacity of 120,000 tonnes. Two new factories, funded by China, are also expected to start production in October, each with a capacity of 50,000 tonnes. The government is implementing an aggressive policy to make local processing more attractive, including tax breaks and incentives for Ivorian companies.