The 44 member-countries of the International Cocoa Organisation gathered in Abidjan, from 18 to 22 September 2017, for the 96th session of the International Cocoa Council, its highest body.
This meeting, which was chaired by Mr Luis Valverde from Ecuador, examined various agenda items, including the report by the Working Group on the Review of the International Cocoa Agreement 2010 (ICA 2010).
The ICA 2010 came into force five years ago and was due for a review which would establish its relevance in the current economic climate. Hence, the Council decided that the International Cocoa Agreement was still a useful tool which should be amended, in line with Article 63.
The Council also discussed the conclusions of the meeting of the Multi-Stakeholder Platform on Declining Cocoa Prices which was held on 19-20 July 2017. Indeed, the Platform recommended a new approach based on a sustainable production of cocoa. This would involve an improved coordination of national production policies and programs to better align the supply of cocoa with global demand forecasts. The Platform also advocated a greater diversification of revenues for farmers as well as their professionalization and empowerment.
With regards to future events by the International Cocoa Organization, the Council considered the preparations for the International Symposium on Cocoa Research to be held in Lima, Peru, from 13-17 November 2017. Likewise, the organisation of the Fourth World Cocoa Conference (WCC4) scheduled in Berlin, Germany, in April 2018 is well under way.
Finally, the International Cocoa Council formally authorised the Secretariat to launch the selection procedure for the next Executive Director of ICCO, who will take office on 01 October 2018.