News Releases

Foreign Direct Investment - The Goal for World Cocoa and Chocolate Day Expo

For Release Upon Receipt - October 26, 2023

St. Augustine


St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago. Oct 26, 2023 – Cocoa connoisseurs and chocolate enthusiasts are invited to the upcoming World Cocoa and Chocolate Day Expo hosted by the Cocoa Research Centre (CRC) of The University of the West Indies (The UWI). This event takes place at the Mahatma Gandhi Institute for Cultural Cooperation in Mt Hope from Friday October 27- Saturday October 28, 2023.

 For over a decade, the CRC has used the World Cocoa and Chocolate Day Expo as a platform to bridge the gap between developing high-quality local chocolate products and ensuring their presence both on local shelves and in international retail establishments. Optimistically, the CRC’s value-adding efforts have been tremendous leading to the training of upwards of 300 chocolatiers, with 40-50 start-up businesses now venturing into export. However, while these strides are significant, there remains an urgent need for investment in the production sector. Therefore, to truly uplift and modernize the farms, the CRC is prioritizing securing heavy investment to grow the sector to where it should be.

 The two-day expo will feature local artisans and chocolatiers who will unveil an array of beverages, gourmet creations crafted from locally sourced cocoa, and an exquisite display of cocoa-inspired art and craft. Exposing the chocolatiers to the local market and getting them a seat at the table in foreign markets, will ultimately attract investment into the cocoa sector, which remains the priority for the CRC.  According to Professor Pathmanathan Umaharan ORTT, the Director of the CRC, “the whole idea is to really attract investment - we are building business models both for farms as well as value-added producers to be able to attract impact investment locally from local entrepreneurs as well as foreign direct investment so that we can expand the cocoa industry further.”

 In some circles, it is felt that T&T is sitting on a goldmine where the cocoa sector is concerned, and to a large extent Professor Umaharan agrees. He believes that “we have a reputation for cocoa, but the opportunities we haven't really grasped. By bringing in investment locally and internationally we could grow the sector, grow the chocolate sector as well get into the export market in a big way and earn foreign exchange as well.” The World Cocoa and Chocolate Day Expo is designed to create such opportunities.

 Additionally, the event also offers an invaluable educational platform through workshops intended to deepen farmers’ and chocolatiers’ insight into the local cocoa and chocolate industry. To get students involved at a very early stage and create an interest in the process, Schools have also been invited to attend. One of the highlights is the Innovations inChocolate Cuisine Challenge, where residents craft inventive cocoa-infused dishes for evaluation by experts.

 World Cocoa and Chocolate Day Expo serves as a forum for forging invaluable connections amongst industry stakeholders and advancing the sustainable growth of the cocoa sector. All products showcased at the expo will be available for purchase, allowing you to carry home a fragment of cocoa's allure.

 Join us in savouring the world of cocoa and chocolate, celebrating World Cocoa and Chocolate Day 2023 with The UWI Cocoa Research Centre leading the way. To learn more about the Cocoa Research Centre please visit https://sta.uwi.edu/cru/ 

  Notes to Editor

 For more information and updates about the World Cocoa and Chocolate Expo, please visit

https://sta.uwi.edu/news/ecalendar/event.asp?id=4203

 About The University of the West Indies 

 The UWI has been and continues to be a pivotal force in every aspect of Caribbean development; residing at the centre of all efforts to improve the well-being of people across the region for the past 75 years.

 From a university college of London in Jamaica with 33 medical students in 1948, The UWI is today an internationally respected, global university with near 50,000 students and five campuses: Mona in Jamaica, St. Augustine in Trinidad and Tobago, Cave Hill in Barbados, Five Islands in Antigua and Barbuda and its Open Campus, and global centres in partnership with universities in North America, Latin America, Asia, Africa and Europe.

 The UWI offers over 800 certificate, diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate degree options in Culture, Creative and Performing Arts, Food and Agriculture, Engineering, Humanities and Education, Law, Medical Sciences, Science and Technology, Social Sciences, and Sport. As the Caribbean’s leading university, it possesses the largest pool of Caribbean intellect and expertise committed to confronting the critical issues of our region and wider world.

 The UWI has been consistently ranked among the top universities globally by the most reputable ranking agency, Times Higher Education (THE). The UWI is the only Caribbean-based university to make the prestigious lists since its debut in the rankings in 2018. In addition to its leading position in the Caribbean in the World University Rankings, it is also in the top 25 for Latin America and the Caribbean and the top 100 global Golden Age universities (between 50 and 80 years old).  The UWI is also featured among the leading universities on THE’s Impact Rankings for its response to the world’s biggest concerns, outlined in the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including Good Health and Wellbeing; Gender Equality and Climate Action.

 2023 marks The UWI’s 75th anniversary. The Diamond jubilee milestone themed “UWI at 75. Rooted. Ready. Rising.” features initiatives purposely designed and aligned to reflect on the past, confront the present, and articulate plans for the future of the regional University. 

 Learn more at www.uwi.edu

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