FAIR TRADE CHOCOLATE

That this House notes the achievement of Divine Chocolate, the world's leading fair trade chocolate company, on the announcement of its first ever dividend and that this dividend, of which £47,352 is directly payable to the Ghanaian Farmer's co-operative, Kuapa Kokoo, represents a significant achievement for fair trade in an increasingly global economy; commends Divine Chocolate for its efforts to create a successful business in the UK which directly benefits the cocoa farmers of West Africa and on the board of which they play an active part; welcomes the role which the Department for International Development played in helping the company to get started; and urges the Department to consider the benefits this model has to offer in establishing fair trade with farmers in developing countries.