Company has Helped to Increase Local Pech, Garifuna and Ladino Incomes by up to 70% Since 2009

/EINPresswire.com/ -- TEGUCIGALPA, HONDURAS--(Marketwired - July 21, 2016) - Dinant is to expand its support for Pech, Garifuna and Ladino ethnic populations in Honduras by building a new facility to collect the fruit of the Corozo palm, a species that grows wild on the Caribbean Coast and is protected and harvested by ethnic communities.

Company Spokesman, Roger Pineda, said, "Dinant has been helping nearby ethnic communities for many years. Since 2009, we have invested over US$120,000 in a program to support the sustainable production of Corozo palm nuts by local Pech, Garifuna and Ladino people. By providing training, tools, processing machinery and infrastructure -- as well as purchasing 100% of their Corozo palm harvests -- we are helping to increase incomes in some of the poorest parts of Honduras. We are discussing with ethnic communities where to build this new collection facility -- the 3rd that Dinant will have built. I have no doubt that it will help to increase poorer communities' profits yet further."

Through its Sustainable Corozo Palm Harvesting Program, Dinant has helped to increase the incomes of local Pech, Garifuna and Ladino communities by up to 70% since 2009, and provided technical support to ensure sustainable supplies for the future. The project directly benefits more than 500 ethnic people, over half of whom are women. Dinant now has a commercial relationship with 80% of local ethnic populations.

Mr. Pineda continued, "Rural poverty is a pressing issue in many parts of Honduras, but this program is proving to be a real success story for all concerned. Dinant is helping to bring ethnic families out of poverty by building a sustainable business for future generations in ways that respect local traditions and beliefs. And by processing the Corozo palm nut harvests into edible oils and biofuels, we are supporting Dinant's business strategy too."

About Corporación Dinant

Dinant is a family-owned consumer products manufacturer founded in Honduras in 1960. Its products are sold across Central America and the Dominican Republic, and exported to global markets. Dinant employs 8,000 people, supports over 22,000 livelihoods, generates millions of US dollars in exports for the Honduran economy, and contributes significantly to all communities in which it operates. Dinant rigorously benchmarks its operations against stringent international standards regarding the economic, environmental and social impact of its African Palm oil business. All Dinant facilities in Honduras have achieved ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 status for high standards of environmental management and occupational health & safety.

This material is distributed by Tricuro LLC on behalf of Corporación Dinant. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, DC.

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Roger Pineda
roger.pineda@dinant.com
+(504) 2239-8800