ACTIV Association

01/10/2026

We were pleased to welcome the Ambassador for the Embassy of Japan in Vanuatu / 在バヌアツ日本国大使館 at Le Touch blong Vanuatu for the opening of the Pikinini Bar. The Embassy of Japan in Vanuatu contributed for more than 14M vatu for the building of Le Touch blong Vanuatu to build a more resilient local economy.

Tenkyu bigwan !

12/09/2026

An important milestone for Le Touch blong Vanuatu

This week marked another important step forward for Le Touch blong Vanuatu, with ACTIV Limited and Klivtrrn Holdings Limited , the respective branches of ACTIV Association and Klivtrn Harvest Presbyterian Church, signing the management agreement for the centre.

Under this agreement, ACTIV will be responsible for the management and day-to-day operation of Le Touch blong Vanuatu, supporting the businesses and entrepreneurs who will operate from the centre.

Le Touch blong Vanuatu was created following the December 2024 earthquake, to provide relocation opportunities for artisans, chefs and small businesses affected by the disaster, while also helping local entrepreneurs become more resilient and better prepared for future natural disasters.

Nearly VT 40 million has already been invested in the development of the centre, including:

VT 14.4 million from the Embassy of Japan
7 x 40 foot containers and 8 x 20 containers, value estimated to VT 8.6 million in support from Kyowa Shipping, together with its partnership with Textainer
VT 5 million from the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI) Canada in the Pacific
And the remaining investment provided through ACTIV co-funding

And the work continues.

The centre is being built from 24 shipping containers, 8 x 40-foot containers and 16 x 20-foot containers. transformed into spaces for food businesses, artisans, local products and small enterprises.

This investment is not only about building infrastructure. It is about creating a long-term, resilient economic space where local artisans, chefs and entrepreneurs can rebuild, grow their businesses and be better equipped to face future shocks.

Le Touch blong Vanuatu is continuing to grow: built through partnership, resilience and a shared commitment to Vanuatu’s local entrepreneurs.

23/08/2026

We were pleased this afternoon to launch the partnership with Klivtrn Harvest Presbyterian Church for the community project Le Touch blong Vanuatu.

This partnership marks an important step forward for the project, and we look forward to building this initiative together for the benefit of our community.

ACTIV Association would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the Vanuatu Government representatives who joined us for the soft opening of “Le Touch blong Vanuatu.”
We are also deeply grateful to our major donors and partners, whose generous support made this project possible with the Embassy of Japan in Vanuatu / 在バヌアツ日本国大使館 with financial support, the Kiowa Shipping Company for their generous container supply and Canada Government Canada in Australia
for their financial support. Your partnership and support have been instrumental in bringing this community project to life. We look forward to continuing this journey together as we work toward the grand opening!

More updates to come as the centre takes shape!

06/08/2026

Congratulations to Vanuatu Department of Agriculture & Rural Development, whose growing support for cocoa farmers, most recently presenting Joseph with a new cascade fermentation box developed by VARTC CTRAV, is helping strengthen post-harvest quality across the sector.

Joseph Merib, cocoa farmer and trader from Epi Island, has been part of ACTIV’s network of producers since his beginnings in 2010, supported through two Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research projects, one on improving cocoa quality, the other on genetic mapping. It’s with producers like Joseph that ACTIV has worked to lift Vanuatu’s cocoa from bulk grade to fine flavour cocoa. That shared commitment to quality helped lay the groundwork for our Aelan Dark 70% Epi Origin, awarded a bronze medal at the 2017 NZ Chocolate Awards. and a silver medal (Best Dark Chocolate & Top Vegan Chocolate) at the 2018 International Chocolate Salon – Artisan Chocolate Awards San Francisco Chocolate Festival and Events in San Francisco, USA, a gold medal from Japan awards in 2021 and just last week, our AELAN 70% Dark Fine Chocolate with Cocoa Nibs received a 1-Star Great Taste Awards from the Guild of Fine Food in the UK.

Congratulations to you both for your commitment to Vanuatu cocoa! 🍫🇻🇺

05/08/2026

AELAN Chocolate Makers has achieved another major international milestone for Vanuatu after two of its locally produced cocoa products received awards at the prestigious Great Taste Awards 2026, organised by the Guild of Fine Food in the United Kingdom.

Read more: https://www.dailypost.vu/news/business_news/aelan-makes-history-for-vanuatu-with-two-great-taste-awards/article_a85ea844-bb09-5b1b-bde3-d78c179693f7.html

02/08/2026

Proud moment for our community 🍪🍫🇻🇺 The chocolate in this exclusive Zagame Cookie comes from Aelan Chocolate Makers Aelan Vanuatu, part of the ACTIV Association family — supporting local farmers and community livelihoods across Vanuatu.

From cacao grown by our local growers, to bean-to-bar chocolate made in Port Vila, to this delicious collaboration with Island cookie and Zagame Bros Coffee at Grand Hotel & Casino Vanuatu — this is what local value chains look like in action.

Thank you for supporting local products and local jobs. Have you tried the Zagame Cookie yet? 👇

We’re incredibly grateful to Zagame Bros Coffee at Grand Hotel & Casino Vanuatu for giving us the opportunity to create the exclusive Zagame Cookie! 🍪☕🇻🇺

This special cookie is handcrafted by Island Cookie using Zagame Bros’ signature coffee and Vanuatu’s finest Aelan chocolate from Aelan Vanuatu creating a flavour that’s rich, unique, and proudly local.

Thank you for trusting us with this collaboration. We hope every bite is as enjoyable as every cup of coffee.

A soft, chewy coffee cookie with rich chocolate chunks, perfectly balanced for a smooth and indulgent flavour.

31/07/2026

Notre filiale Aelan Chocolate Makers brille aux Great Taste Awards 2026 !

ACTIV Association est fière d’annoncer que Aelan Chocolate Makers, notre entreprise sociale née au sein d’ACTIV, a été récompensée aux Great Taste Awards de Londres, la plus grande et la plus respectée accréditation food & drink au monde, jugée en dégustation à l’aveugle par des centaines d’experts.

⭐ Une étoile pour la tablette 70% Dark Fine Chocolate with Cocoa Nibs
⭐ Distinction ‘Outstanding’ pour notre Aelan Cocoa Tea, fabriqué à partir de cosses de cacao torréfiées — une belle reconnaissance pour la valorisation d’un sous-produit du cacao

Nous sommes la seule entreprise du Vanuatu présente dans cette sélection 2026, aux côtés de producteurs d’Afrique, d’Asie et du Pacifique.

Cette distinction est le fruit de 17 ans de travail avec nos communautés partenaires autour du cacao vanuatais. Merci à l’. International Trade Centre (ITC) et au programme UK Trade Partnerships pour leur accompagnement.

Small producers from Africa, Asia and the Pacific have taken the world stage by storm at this year's Great Taste Awards in London, with 15 businesses walking

29/07/2026

A proud milestone for ACTIV, AELAN and Vanuatu’s cocoa producers

As Vanuatu prepares to celebrate its 46th Independence Anniversary, ACTIV Association is extremely proud to share the international recognition received by AELAN Chocolate Makers, the commercial arm developed by ACTIV to transform Vanuatu’s agricultural products locally and create greater value for producers.

Two AELAN products have received Great Taste Awards 2026:

🏆 ⭐⭐ AELAN Cocoa Tea -2 stars
🏆 ⭐ AELAN 70% Dark Fine Chocolate with Cocoa Nibs — 1 Star

AELAN is proud to be the first locally owned company from Vanuatu to receive Great Taste Awards.

For ACTIV, these awards represent much more than recognition of two excellent products. They reflect nearly 20 years of work, since 2008, alongside cocoa farmers, women’s groups and rural communities to strengthen Vanuatu’s cocoa sector.

With the support of our government, development and technical partners, ACTIV organises training for producers in cocoa quality, fermentation, drying and post-harvest practices. We also support local processing, product development and access to new markets through AELAN Chocolate Makers.

The judges praised the rich cocoa aroma and quality of our Cocoa Tea, describing it as:

“What a wonderful use of a by-product of the chocolate industry.”

This comment perfectly reflects our approach: reducing waste, transforming more of the cocoa locally and creating innovative products that generate additional value in Vanuatu.

This achievement belongs first and foremost to the cocoa producers of Malekula, Santo, Malo, Epi and Efate, whose knowledge, commitment and hard work are at the heart of every AELAN product.

We also congratulate the entire AELAN Chocolate Makers team and sincerely thank the International Trade Centre for supporting our participation in this international competition, together with all the partners who have supported ACTIV’s training and cocoa development programmes over the years.

As we celebrate Vanuatu’s Independence, this recognition shows what can be achieved when local knowledge, training, innovation and value-added production come together.

🇻🇺 Happy Independence Day, Vanuatu!

From our farmers and volcanic islands to the world’s finest tables.

A milestone for Vanuatu’s cocoa sector: Congratulations to AELAN Chocolate Makers!

As Vanuatu celebrates the 46th Anniversary of Independence, everyone at ACTIV Association is incredibly proud to congratulate our social enterprise, AELAN Chocolate Makers, on receiving two prestigious Great Taste Awards 2026.

AELAN Cocoa Tea – 2 Stars

AELAN 70% Dark Fine Chocolate with Cocoa Nibs – 1 Star

These awards make AELAN Chocolate Makers the first locally owned company from Vanuatu to receive Great Taste Awards, one of the world’s most respected food accreditation schemes.

For ACTIV, these awards represent much more than international recognition.

They are the result of nearly 20 years of working alongside cocoa farmers, women’s groups and rural communities across Vanuatu to strengthen local value addition and create sustainable economic opportunities.

Through the support of many partners over the years, ACTIV has been able to:

train cocoa farmers in quality production, fermentation and post-harvest handling;
support farmer organisations and local communities;
invest in local processing and manufacturing;
promote Vanuatu cocoa internationally;
demonstrate that value can be created locally, generating more income and opportunities for producers.

We sincerely thank all of our partners who have supported this journey, including government agencies, development partners, technical experts and buyers who believed in the potential of Vanuatu cocoa.

Most importantly, we thank the cocoa producers of Malekula, Santo, Malo, Epi and Efate. This achievement belongs to you.

Congratulations also to the entire AELAN Chocolate Makers team for their passion and commitment.

Together, we are proving that small island nations can produce world-class products while creating sustainable livelihoods for local communities.

🇻🇺 Happy Independence Day, Vanuatu!

Together, we continue building a stronger, more resilient and more prosperous cocoa sector for future generations.