Chocolate festival postponed

Business

THE 2020 Bougainville Chocolate Festival has been postponed due to Covid-19 pandemic.
The festival, which has been run annually since 2016 in different locations throughout Bougainville, brings together cocoa farmers, chocolatiers, industry representatives and government officials to network and discuss market access, and share improved farming and processing techniques.
The festival provides an opportunity to sample the delicious chocolate made from Bougainville’s beans.
Kenneth Dovaro, acting secretary for department of primary industries and co-chair of the festival organising committee said: “The postponement of the Chocolate Festival is a real blow after being such a success since the first one in 2016.
“It’s a really important trade fair and provides an unprecedented opportunity for Bougainville cocoa growers to meet industry people from all over and, of course, for industry people to meet them.”
Festival co-chair and department of economic development secretary Steven Tsivele said: “We’re very disappointed of course. But the important thing is for everyone to stay safe during the pandemic and for us to adhere to the state of emergency restrictions.”