Bolivia advances in the cacao value chain | Bolivia avanza en cadena de valor del cacao

By El Diario:4

Bolivian cacao has a greater presence in the world

With the aim of strengthening the cacao production chain, the Government of Bolivia, international organizations, and Non-Governmental Organizations carried out a strategic institutional mapping to coordinate joint policies that project the competitiveness of Bolivian cacao both domestically and globally.

This progress took place at last Monday’s meeting at Palacio Chico, where the first preparatory session of the National Technical Roundtable for the Cacao sector was held.

The event was attended by the Minister of Sustainable Tourism, Cultures, Folklore and Gastronomy, Cinthya Yáñez Eid; the Vice Minister of Gastronomy, Sumaya Prado; the Vice Minister for the Promotion of Sustainable Tourism, Andrés Aramayo; and the Vice Minister of Agricultural Development, Karel Rivero. Also present was the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany in Bolivia, Dr. José Schulz.

“This meeting marks the beginning of coordinated interministerial work. From our different areas of responsibility, we share a common objective: to strengthen the cacao production chain in Bolivia. This coordination will not only optimize efforts, but also generate more comprehensive policies that support the sector from production to its incorporation into the market, gastronomy, and its tourism projection,” expressed Minister Yáñez.

In his remarks, Ambassador Schulz highlighted the link between different international cooperation institutions and state entities to consolidate a common roadmap. “This effort will make it possible to identify contributions, recognize gaps and duplications, and lay stronger foundations for strategic coordination,” he stated.

The representation of the state apparatus included the participation of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs; Development Planning and Environment; Productive, Rural and Water Development; and Sustainable Tourism, Cultures, Folklore and Gastronomy. They were joined by strategic entities such as the Productive Development Bank Corporation; the National Forest Development Fund (Fonabosque); the National Productive and Social Investment Fund; the National Intellectual Property Service (Senapi); and the National Agricultural Health and Food Safety Service (Senasag).

Representatives from GIZ, Ayuda en Acción, Swisscontact, Ecotop, Wildlife Conservation Society, the Center for Research and Promotion of Peasantry (Cipca), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Helvetas, the Peasant Agricultural Promotion Center (Cepac), and the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN Bolivia) also participated.

The meeting was organized by the Ministry of Sustainable Tourism, Cultures, Folklore and Gastronomy through the Vice Ministry of Gastronomy, in coordination with the Ministry of Productive, Rural and Water Development through the Vice Ministry of Agricultural Development, together with the ProAmazonía project funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and implemented by German Cooperation through GIZ.

The meeting facilitated an exchange of technical experiences aimed at consolidating the national mapping of institutions working with cacao, joining efforts, and avoiding duplication on common issues. At its conclusion, participants signed an official record, validating the need to establish a National Technical Roundtable for Cacao and reaffirming their institutional willingness to participate in this strategic coordination space.

The next step will be the formation of the National Technical Roundtable for Cacao, which will include producers, collectors/buyers, and processors from different regions of the country, as well as academic and research institutions, to design a critical roadmap and a consensual work agenda aimed at strengthening the competitiveness and sustainability of the value chain of this remarkable product.

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