A delegation from the Cocoa Board of Papua New Guinea and a representative of ENB Commodities are on the delegate list, along with delegations from southeast Asian neighbours Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam.
Taking place at the Barcelo Bavaro Convention centre, from May 22 to 25, organisers are expecting 1000 participants to attend, the same number who attended the inaugural conference in Abidjan and the next event in Amsterdam.
Organisers say the conference is now established as the leading event for the global cocoa sector, bringing together the major players from the value chain, from all over the world.
Participants are drawn from government agencies, chocolate manufacturers, trading companies, cocoa processors, companies involved in trade logistics, finance and insurance as well as suppliers of agricultural inputs and processing technology.
Organisers cite seven reasons why those involved in the cocoa industry should attend:
- Engage with the most influential stakeholders from producing countries, the trade and the chocolate industry to shape the future of the cocoa sector
- Share the experience of projects dedicated to improving cocoa farming with better access to agricultural inputs and agronomic best-practice
- Work with peers across the supply chain to boost farmer livelihoods
- Hear strategies for revitalising cocoa growing communities and incentivising the next generation of cocoa farmers
- Assess the prospects for further cocoa consumption growth in emerging markets and producing countries
- Identify new trading opportunities based on the latest supply and demand outlooks from all over the world
- Meet decision-makers from across the supply chain, from all over the world, at the best forum for doing business in cocoa
Speakers include:
- Danilo Medina Sanchez, Dominican Republic President
- Jean-Marc Anga, executive director, ICCO
- Angel Estevez Bourdierd, Dominican Republic Agriculture Minister
- Christian Schmidt, Food and Agriculture Minister, Germany
- Jean-Louis Billon, Minister of Commerce, Ivory Coast
- Francis Baah, executive director, Ghana Cocoa Board
- Martin Gilmour, cocoa sustainability director, Mars Global Chocolate
- Barry Parkin, World Cocoa Foundation chairman
- Marina Korchynsky Morari, community development GM, Cocoa Sustainability
- Barry Callebaut, Sourcing AG
