As part of the partnership agreement PHAMA Plus will be purchasing new equipment for a second factory chain which will cater mainly in processing chocolates for cocoa kakao farmers around Vanuatu. The reason being ACTIV’s current single line factory is insufficient to cater for the current demands for Aelan Chocolate products as well as ACTIV’s tourism business. ACTIV has been working with farmers from Araki and Malo islands and is looking to expand its assistance to more farmers, especially on the other 3 main kakao producing islands, namely Epi, Malekula and Santo.  

The partners are touting the arrangement as a Share-Factory Concept, where ACTIV, having the chocolate production savvy and a HACCP certified facility, PHAMA Plus having the funds for a new equipment line and the VPPA with its farmers/members using the production line to turn their beans into chocolate and sell the bars back in their villages and islands to make money.  

 Following the signing of the agreement those present had the privilege to taste some of the Aelan chocolate Samples from the islands mentioned.

 The partners are grateful to the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade for the funding support it provides to PHAMA Plus program.