Chocolate to China: Exports strengthen economy in poor region of Mexico

World
Europe

02:56

Many think big cities drive modern-day business. But there's money to be made in small towns as well. In the poorest region of Mexico, one business has found success by tapping into a local tradition, and helping workers out of poverty along the way. And as CGTN's Alasdair Baverstock reports, one of the customers is China.

The Sierra Mixteca in Southern Mexico, home to indigenous tribes for thousands of years.

Steeped in tradition and culture, this is also Mexico's most impoverished region, with few employment opportunities and high rates of outbound migration among its young people.

But one local business has a solution: Chocolate.

By commercializing traditional chocolate-making methods, 'Oaxacanita', founded by German Santillan is boosting economies across the region.

GERMAN SANTILLAN OAXACANITA CHOCOLATE "People have been making chocolate in this region for many years in a very delicious way. So we decided to found a chocolate company and hire the traditional chocolate cooks from the town."

Mary Avellanas and twelve other local women now have full-time jobs - a rare thing in this region.

MARY AVELLANAS MIXTECA CHOCOLATIER "It has helped the economic development of our community a great deal, because it has become nationally and internationally recognized. So it's great that a Mixtec company has been able to help its own people."

Beyond employing locals, German also helped regional farmers - by encouraging them to produce cacao - and then buying their entire harvest.

ALASDAIR BAVERSTOCK OAXACA STATE, MEXICO "Cacao crops are not endemic to Oaxaca, since Mexico's chocolate industry is located in the warm climate of the Gulf coast. Yet, the regular rainy season in this mountainous region has favored cacao agriculture, allowing Oaxaca state to produce a quality commodity."

Launched in 2015, the company's chocolate has grown popular across Mexico, and is now being exported to Europe and China.

GERMAN SANTILLAN OAXACANITA CHOCOLATE "We're talking about an ancient tradition here, and I think we can offer a really professional product. That's why we'd always rather employ a person, than buy a machine that can do the same job. We believe that manpower is very important."

As the Mixteca's newest industry grows, its founder's ultimate goal is to preserve the ancient traditions that have turned it into a 21st century business success. Alasdair Baverstock, CGTN, Oaxaca State, Mexico.