The United Kingdom is supporting the growth of the Solomon Islands’ cocoa industry by providing new processing equipment to a local social enterprise, aiming to boost production, expand
export opportunities and increase the economic benefits for farmers.
British High Commissioner to Solomon Islands Paul Turner handed over the machine to Kokonut Pacific Solomon Islands (KOSI) on Friday, 9 October 2026. The equipment is expected to help the company increase its output of chocolate paste and finished chocolate products, enabling it to serve a growing domestic market and reach more international customers.
Founded in Honiara in 2004, KOSI processes locally produced coconut and cocoa and works with more than 1,000 farmers across the country. The enterprise provides training, connects rural producers with markets and creates opportunities to strengthen agricultural incomes and employment.
By purchasing cocoa from village-based farmers and transforming it into higher-value products, KOSI plays an important role in connecting small-scale producers with international supply chains. Its contribution to agribusiness, exports and community development has earned it national recognition.
Speaking at the handover ceremony, Turner highlighted the importance of supporting enterprises that help local communities benefit from international trade.
“The UK is proud to partner with social enterprises like KOSI that provide the crucial link between farmers and international markets, adding value to local products and helping communities prosper across Solomon Islands,” he said.
The new machinery comes as KOSI seeks to expand its business and increase the value generated from cocoa grown in the Solomon Islands. Demand within the country has risen significantly, with around half of the company’s cocoa production now consumed domestically. Greater processing capacity could help the business meet this demand while increasing supplies for overseas buyers, including customers in the UK and New Zealand.
The equipment handover builds on broader British efforts to develop commercial links with the Solomon Islands’ cocoa sector. In 2024, UK cocoa buyers visited the country to explore partnerships with local producers. The initiative helped pave the way for Solomon Islands cocoa to be selected as an ingredient for Cocoa Sisters, a new chocolate brand in the British market.
The UK also supported cocoa growers and chocolate producers from the Solomon Islands in presenting their products at the Chocoa trade fair in Amsterdam in February 2025. The event, one of Europe’s major gatherings for the cocoa industry, offered local businesses opportunities to meet potential buyers and establish commercial relationships in the UK and across Europe.
The latest support is intended to help local producers capture a greater share of the value created from their agricultural products, while strengthening the Solomon Islands’ position in international cocoa markets. Photo by Irene Scott/AusAID, Wikimedia commons.
