International Cocoa Organization (ICCO) executive director Jean-Marc Anga is heading a mission to the Dominican Republic coordinate plans for the country to host the Third Bi-Annual World Cocoa Conference in Punta Cana in March 2016. He will be accompanied by the Dominican ambassador in the United Kingdom, Federico Cuello.
The Dominican Republic was selected as the venue for the third bi-annual World Cocoa Conference because of the country’s growing role in international cocoa production and because of the progress it has made in developing cocoa quality and improving technology.
Some 1,400 farmers, cocoa processors and handlers, traders, chocolate manufacturers and related industry people from all over the world attended the 2014 conference held in Amsterdam.
The conference is seen as a key opportunity for the Dominican Republic both to show the advances in its cocoa industry to the world, as well as for it to take part in high-level discussions during the business sessions, scheduled for 16-19 March 2016.
The delegation members will meet with government representatives as well as viewing proposed venues and arrangements for the conference itself, including the business sessions and an international trade exhibition planned for the event.
Minister of Agriculture Angel Estevez has announced that President Danilo Medina will officially inaugurate the 2016 conference in its opening session.
The Dominican Republic is the world’s eighth largest cocoa producing country and its cocoa exports earn the country over US$200 million annually. It currently leads the world in exports of organic cocoa and is the third largest producer of the higher quality fine or flavor type.
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