Details of this year's expo are also available on the Trello page : All About WCCD and will be shared on the Facebook event page for WCCD9.
World Cocoa and Chocolate Day, originally the brain child of the International Cocoa Organisation and the Académie Française du Chocolat et de la Confiserie, is commemorated on the 1st of October to bring greater awareness in consumers and the public of the living conditions of cocoa growers’ worldwide in an effort to build a sustainable cocoa economy. The celebration of this day by the Cocoa Research Centre of The UWI with all the cocoa stakeholders has taken on a new meaning as we build the cocoa industry into a sustainable industry capable of diversifying the economy of Trinidad and Tobago and strengthening the cocoa value chain.
WCCD expo showcases the combined efforts of the private sector including farmers, farmer groups, processors, chocolatiers, manufacturers of soap and cosmetics, agrotourism operators, governmental organisations including the Cocoa Development Company of Trinidad and Tobago, the Ministries and/or state boards responsible for agriculture, tourism and their organs, InvestTT, the non-governmental sector as well as Universities, Cocoa Research Centre of The University of the West Indies as well as University of Trinidad and Tobago.
WCCD expos will not only continue to build and expand public awareness, support and pride as we build a new cocoa economy based on value addition, branding, niche marketing, but also seek to attract investment and expansion of the industry. We expect the yearly celebration to also bring greater coherence among all stakeholders in their efforts and usher in greater energy, enthusiasm and efficiency as we modernise this once great industry.
*Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries