Switzerland's important role at the Cocoa and Chocolate Fair in Lima

For this reason, Switzerland organised an important delegation with various activities with companies, experts and SMEs, led by the Swiss Embassy and SECO. In addition, the Swiss Chamber of Commerce organised the Swiss Pavilion for visitors.

A delegation of Swiss experts was in Lima to participate in conferences, field visits, business meetings, exhibitions, seminars and tastings for buyers and producers. These activities included the participation of SIPPO with Swisscontact and other Swiss cooperation partners such as SECO, SWISSCO the Swiss Chamber of Commerce, Helvetas, etc. The Swiss delegation was led by the Swiss Ambassador to Peru.

Support by SIPPO's international consultants
SIPPO was present to support its partners, PROMPERU and Agromercado (formerly SSE), with its international consultant, Jeroen (Jerome) Kruft, on cocoa markets and trends, and its local expert, Vilsic Bocangel who developed a sensory map and offered a tasting of Peruvian chocolates to buyers attending the business roundtable organised by PROMPERU and other sessions for exhibitors organised by Agromercado.

Sustainability and supply chains
This roundtable addressed key questions about chocolate production:

• How do European chocolate manufacturers address business sustainability?
• Which sustainable cocoa and chocolate production practices have proven to be the most effective?
• How are new regulations affecting the cocoa and chocolate supply chains

The cocoa tasting made the business roundtable more effective and, according to Promperu, has a projected turnover of 7.2 million dollars over the next 12 months

Strategic recommendations
As a next step, SIPPO has developed a set of strategic recommendations for the positioning of the event, that will be delivered by SECO to the Peruvian association of cocoa producers APPACAO, the leader of the Cocoa and Chocolate Show.