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“The opportunity of a positive impact”: Interview with Alejandro

We sat down with Alejandro, Technology & Technical Procurement Manager at Koa, to talk about the factory and his contribution toward the ambitious project.

What is your role in the new factory project?

I am one of the project coordinators, mostly in charge of the design of the production set-up. I am also responsible for the procurement process of the equipment and machines that will be used in the factory. 

What are currently the biggest challenges?

The greatest obstacle we face is time. Undertaking a project of this magnitude involves coordinating resources from various locations around the world, which poses significant challenges. Moreover, unpredictable weather conditions can disrupt transportation and construction, further complicating matters. These factors have forced the entire team to adapt our plans, but we have managed to overcome the majority of these challenges. Through this process, we have gained invaluable knowledge and experience, and now we find ourselves on the final stretch towards successfully completing the project.

What are the main differences in building such a factory in Ghana compared to Switzerland?

I’m unsure about the specific requirements in Switzerland, as there are numerous factors to take into account, including weather, location, land conditions, available area, and more. However, it would be intriguing to envision and visualize comparable sourcing and processing activities within Switzerland.

How many people are working currently at the construction site?

More than 100.

What is your favourite part of the factory?

The area where the cocoa fruit juice and pulp are extracted prior to further processing . From there, you have a beautiful view of the surrounding forest. 

How will the new factory change Koa’s operation?

The operation will be much bigger than it is now. With the new factory being operational, our capacities will increase a lot which also requires more human resources, new concepts and processes. However, I think the spirit will be the same as in our current smaller factory with the opportunity of a bigger positive impact.

What will be your main task when the factory is completed?

The completion of the factory marks the commencement of its next journey, and I will be actively involved in supporting its ongoing improvement and development in future phases. Our focus will be on enhancing and expanding decentralized processing capacity, while also facilitating the transition to e-vehicles for the sourcing of raw materials.

Stay tuned for more updates!

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