Work will begin soon on a center to promote local cacao, Hakka culture and tourism in Pingtung County, the Pingtung Department of Hakka Affairs said.
With the permission of the Diocese of Kaohsiung, an abandoned Catholic church in Wanluan Township (萬巒) is to be refurbished and turned into a promotional center for the local cacao industry, the department said.
With the project funded by Pingtung County Government and the Hakka Affairs Council, the center is to be the first of its kind in Taiwan.
Photo provided by the Pingtung City Government
A groundbreaking ceremony was held yesterday, with the center expected to be operational by August, the department said.
Cacao trees — which thrive in hot, rainy areas — grow mainly in latitudes within 20 degrees of the equator. In Taiwan, the trees are predominantly cultivated by Hakka communities in townships across Pingtung.
Cacao plantations can also be found in some non-Hakka communities, such as Jiouru (九如) and Ligang (里港) townships.
Nationwide, about 200 hectares of farmland are dedicated to the crop, the department said.
The nation’s cacao industry has experienced a boom in recent years after chocolate made from trees grown in the region received accolades.
In 2017 and last year, Pingtung-based chocolate makers have won at the International Chocolate Awards, including Fu Wan Chocolate, which claimed gold in the rough ground, textured plain and origin dark chocolate bars category at last year’s World Final in Florence, Italy.
Pingtung could win hosting rights for the next Asia-Pacific Competition leg of the awards, the department said.
The center, once completed, would assist the local cacao industry with marketing and promote local Hakka culture and tourism, the department said.
Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr arrived in Taiwan last night to kick off his first visit to the country since beginning his second term earlier this year. After arriving at Taoyuan International Airport at around 6:30 pm, Whipps and his delegation were welcomed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍). Speaking to gathered media, the Palauan leader said he was excited and honored to be back in Taiwan on his first state visit to Taiwan since he was sworn in this January. Among those traveling with Whipps is Minister of State Gustav N. Aitaro, Public Infrastructure
President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday thanked Palau for its continued support of Taiwan's international participation, as Taipei was once again excluded from the World Health Assembly (WHA) currently taking place in Switzerland. "Palau has never stopped voicing support for Taiwan" in the UN General Assembly, the WHO and other UN-affiliated agencies, Lai said during a bilateral meeting with visiting Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. "We have been profoundly touched by these endorsements," Lai said, praising the Pacific island nation's firm support as "courageous." Lai's remarks came as Taiwan was excluded for the ninth consecutive year from the WHA, which is being held in
RESOLUTIONS DEBATE: Taiwan’s allies said that UN and WHA resolutions cited by China and other nations ‘do not determine Taiwan’s participation in WHO activities’ A proposal to invite Taiwan to this year’s World Health Assembly (WHA) was rejected on Monday, resulting in Taipei’s absence from the annual meeting for a ninth consecutive year, although partners spoke up for Taiwan’s participation at the first day of the meeting. The first agenda item after the opening was a “two-on-two debate” on a proposal to invite Taiwan to participate at the WHA as an observer. Similar to previous years, two countries made statements in favor of the proposal, while two others expressed their opposition. Philippine Secretary of Health Teodoro Herbosa, president of the 78th WHA, accepted the WHA General Committee’s
At least three people died and more than a dozen were injured yesterday afternoon when a vehicle struck a group of pedestrians in New Taipei City’s Sansia District (三峽). The incident happened at about 4pm when a car rammed into pedestrians at an intersection near Bei Da Elementary School. Witnesses said the sedan, being driven at a high speed, ran a red light, knocking scooters out of the way and hitting students crossing the road before careening into a median near the intersection of Guocheng and Guoguang streets. The incident resulted in three deaths and 13 injuries, including the driver, a 78-year-old man
RSS