Mayan House of Cacao and Chocolate Museum Signing Ceremony

Categories: TCGA Press Releases
      Date: Sep 22, 2011
     Title: Mayan House of Cacao and Chocolate Museum Signing Ceremony

All media are invited to the signing and inauguration of the Toledo Cacao Growers’ Association [TCGA] Grant Contract in support of their Action entitled Mayan House of Cacao and Chocolate Museum on Tuesday 27th September at 10 :00 am in Punta Gorda Town, Toledo District, Belize. The signing and inauguration will take place in the Sport Complex Auditorium.

The TCGA Action is estimated to cost EURO 500,000 or BZ$ 1,250,000, with the EU contributing EURO 400,000 or BZ$ 1,000,000, 80% of the total cost of the Action.

The TCGA Action is estimated to cost EURO 500,000 or BZ$ 1,250,000, with the EU contributing EURO 400,000 or BZ$ 1,000,000, 80% of the total cost of the Action. Under this Grant Contract the TCGA will further one of the objectives of the BRDP II « to contribute to poverty reduction through an increase in employment and household income opportunities. »

Under this Grant Contract the TCGA will establish a working Cacao Museum, rehabilitate some 200 acres of cacao lands owned by 100 small farmers, provide business education for 20 women, 20 men and 10 youth from Toledo, 25 youth trained in cacao field practices and 50 women trained in the making of cacao products. Improvements in production of cacao and encouragement of further value added efforts in cacao are seen as central in expanding earning opportunities in the rural communities of Toledo.

The signing of the contract will be presided over by Hon. Juan Coy, Minister of State in Ministry of Human Development and Social Transformation; Ambassador Yvonne Hyde, Chief Executive Officer, Ministry of Economic Development; Mr. Vernon Barrett, CFCF; Mr. Sandeep Jagger, IPI; Mr. Cosimo Lamberti-Fossati, Head of the European Union Technical Support Office to Belize; Mr. Alvaro Pop, Chairman – TCGA; and other Special guests.

For more information, please contact :

Toledo Cacao Growers Association

Phone # : 722-2992 / 722-0109

E-mail : info@tcgabelize.com

This project is funded

by the European Union

Delegation of

The European Union

to Jamaica, Belize, The Bahamas, Turks & Caicos Islands and the Cayman Islands, 8 Olivier Road, PO Box 463, Kingston 8, Jamaica, WI

Tel: (1-876) 924.6333

Fax: (1-876) 924.6339

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