Cocoa and chocolate experts from all around the world will be gathering in Punta Cana for the World Cocoa Conference from 22-25 May 2016. The leading event for the cocoa and chocolate sector brings together the major players from the value chain. The meetings will take place at the Barcelo Bavaro Convention Center. The Dominican Republic is a world leader in cocoa production, now gradually beginning to produce chocolate, too.
More than 1,500 cocoa farmers, chocolate makers, government and private sector farming and sustainability experts are expected to attend the event from over 40 countries. This is the first time the event will have been held in Latin America.
The event is being organized by the International Cocoa Organization and the Ministry of Agriculture and National Cocoa Commission are hosting the event for the Dominican Republic. The agenda includes discussions for the Cacao Global Agenda.
President Danilo Medina will be giving the opening address at the conference, which will include talks on changing trends in cocoa production, consumption and global trade. It will also focus on the progress made in the implementation of the Global Cocoa Agenda with updates from major producing countries and the industry.
Information on adding value to cocoa, including differentiation, specialty products and branding will be discussed. The issues of improving cocoa farmers and improving farmer incomes, and finance and insurance solutions to manage risk across the value chain are also on the program.

Source: http://dr1.com/travelnews/archive/2016/tnews022316.html

Starting today, Tuesday, 23 February 2016, the sails will unfold under the skies of Playa Encuentro in Cabarete for the celebration of the Master of the Ocean.
The Master of the Ocean, the only water sports competition featuring surfing, windsurfing, kiteboarding and stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) continues until 28 February 2016.
The annual event makes the most of the exceptional conditions for these watersports in the Cabarete area.
Founded by Marcus Bohm in 2013, the competition consists of 12 teams of four athletes. Each rider competes in a discipline, and the top 15 competitors move to a final stage where they compete for the Master of the Ocean title.
Cabarete is the perfect location as there is no wind in the morning for surfers and SUP enthusiasts, and consistent incoming trade winds from noon onwards, perfect conditions for windsurfers and kitesurfers.
The 2016 Master of the Ocean organizers say they will be hosting 2015 champion Zane Schweitzer and many other international riders including Samuel Perez-Hultz, Fiona Wylde, Luciano Gonzalez, Michael Gebhardt and Brian Talma.

Source: http://dr1.com/travelnews/archive/2016/tnews022316.html

The La Aurora tobacco manufacturing company has announced the opening of a tobacco education facility, the La Aurora Cigar Institute, coinciding with the celebration of ProCigar Week (21-26 February 2016) in Santiago de los Caballeros. The tobacco school is on the second floor of the La Aurora cigar factory in Santiago, the Dominican Republic’s cigar country capital.
As the new institute’s main attraction, the courses on all aspects of cigars and tobacco education will be taught by some of the Dominican Republic’s leading experts in the field. There will be sessions on tobacco plant varietals, soils and cultivation, as well as more theoretical topics like the history of tobacco and its socio-economic role in the Dominican Republic. Practical coursework will include lessons on rolling, blending, cigar tasting and food-and-drink pairing, reports Cigar Aficionado.
The lecturers will include Angel Daniel Nunez (former president of General Cigar Co.), Benjamin Menendez, (former senior vice president at General), La Aurora president Guillermo Leon and La Aurora master blender Manuel Inoa.
As reported, typical courses run three days, with students eligible to receive a certificate of accreditation upon successful completion of the coursework and a final knowledge assessment. However, shorter courses have also been designed for students with only a few hours to spare.
The first block of full-day courses at the new La Aurora Cigar Institute will run from February 29 to March 2. More will be scheduled throughout the year.
The cigar and tobacco museum on the La Aurora site are also part of its factory tour program. The museum showcases not only the history and milestones of the La Aurora Cigar Co., but also the Dominican cigar industry as a whole.
Taking a course at the new institute is a way of combining a vacation with the learning experience about cigars.

Source: http://dr1.com/travelnews/archive/2016/tnews022316.html