Cacao and chocolate exports will surpass US$300 million in 2017, Peru's Agriculture and Irrigation Minister Jose Manuel Hernandez stated.
The official went on to add the Inca nation will become the world's fifth-largest cacao exporter over the coming years.
Peru hosts "some 130,000 cacao hectares, thus providing jobs to some 450,000 people, besides the 90 farming families that grow cacao," he said.
Likewise, the minister affirmed his portfolio currently undertakes efforts to boost
cacao production.
During his participation at the 8th edition of the Cacao and Chocolate Salon's closing last Sunday, Hernandez noted cacao shipments reach US$200 million.
Lastly, he underlined measures will be taken to encourage per-capita consumption of chocolate over the upcoming years.
The event
Held at Lima Convention Center on
July 6-9 this year, the 8th edition of the Cacao and Chocolate Salon sought to value national cacao as a native product from the Peruvian Amazon, along with its wide genetic diversity.
Furthermore, said exhibition was aimed at establishing contact networks and promoting the commercial activity involving cacao and derivatives in domestic and international markets.
During the four-day event, attendees were able to discover and taste various products from the largest Peruvian chocolate companies.
In addition, this year's
Cacao and Chocolate Salon featured master conferences, business rounds, fashion shows and "choco-demos" (live chocolate-pastry master classes), among other activities.
The mentioned activities were supported by renowned master chocolatiers and pastry chefs from Austria, Belgium, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, Japan and the United States.
Organizers
The event's organizing committee included Peru's Ministries of Agriculture and Irrigation, Foreign Trade and Tourism, Production, as well as Foreign Affairs.
State-run National Commission for Development and Life without Drugs (DEVIDA), Exports and Tourism Promotion Board (PromPeru), Peruvian Association of Cacao Producers (Appcacao), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) were also part of the initiative.
(END) CNA/CNA/JHM/MVB