Belgium at the Cocoa and Chocolate Show in Lima

This edition of the Cocoa and Chocolate Show is seeing the much-awaited presence of a "Bélgica contigo" "Belgium with you" stand: speech by Mr Michel Dewez Belgian Ambassador in Peru, the authority of Belgian cooperation in the country, Belgian and Peruvian photographer and also Atomium, cocoa, Belgian chocolate from "Puratos" for chocolate confectionery and local farmers supported by the Belgian Technical Cooperation.

It should be noted that, although the culture of chocolate is not reflected by a high level of chocolate consumption in Peru (600 g/year/person compared to about 8 kg/year/person in Belgium), Peruvian farmers are counting on this product and improving farming skills and treatments to such an extent that it is winning international gold medals in the field.

It has to be said that Belgium is encouraging Peru a great deal given that it has become the second importer of Peruvian cocoa and is providing its know-how for the finished product.

Here too there is room for expansion bearing in mind that the appreciation of chocolate is making huge headway requiring a significant increase in good quality production so as to be able to meet the needs of future markets, which may be such that it could potentially be difficult to meet demand if it is not greatly increased.

The thing that could strengthen even further the strategic association between Peruvian farmers and Belgian chocolate makers. For that matter, some are even interested in acquiring farming land in order to be able to control quality.

The 2017 edition of the Cocoa and Chocolate Show in Lima also gave pride of place to the Smurfs and Belgium. Bearing in mind that the small blue characters are very famous among young and old in Peru and are known as "Pitufos". But only a few of them know that their creator Pierre Culliford is Belgian.