THE Cacao National Congress returns to a face-to-face conference in Davao City on November 24 to 25, 2022.
The event will be held at the SMX Convention Center where at least 70 exhibitors from all over the country are expected, as well as 1,800 participants composed of various stakeholders.
During the conference, cacao players would be able to discuss and upscale strategies to ensure the suitability and sustainability of the cacao industry, assess the current demand and supply of different markets, and prioritize support for cacao farmers.
“The theme for this event is ‘Cacao is Gold’ because we can really have money in cacao and cacao farming,” said Delia Ayano, assistant regional director of the Department of Trade and Industry in Davao and national secretariat for the Philippine Cacao Industry, on Monday, November 7.
According to Charito Puentespina, founder of the Malagos Agri-Ventures Corporation and member of the Philippine Cacao Indsutry Association Inc., industry experts from other countries will also talk about the innovations in the industry and solutions to problems in cacao farming.
“There will be a lot of exchange of ideas as to what is the best way to take care of our cacao trees, one of those is the launch of a guide for farmers and stakeholders who would like to go into cacao farming,” Puentespina said.
The conference is also an opportunity for Davao Region and Davao City, as well as other regions, to showcase its high-quality cacao and chocolate products to drum up more foreign investors since the Philippines is seen as the next big player for cacao production in Asia.
“We have to showcase Davao City as world-renowned. Internationally known ang atong produkto (our products are internationally known), especially our tablea,” Puentespina said.
This year’s National Cacao Congress is headed by the Philippine Cacao Industry Association, Inc., in partnership with the Philippine Cacao Industry Council, the Department of Interior and Local Government, the Department of Trade and Industry, and the Department of Agriculture. ICM