The ICCO announces the World Cocoa Conference, in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, 19 – 23 November 2012

London, 5 December 2011–The ICCO is organizing the first high-level World Cocoa Conference, to take place in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, the world’s largest cocoa producing country.

Certain to be of interest to all stakeholders in the global cocoa value chain, the event will address the most important issues facing cocoa in the second decade of the 21st century.

To be hosted by the Government of Côte d’Ivoire, the World Cocoa Conference will be opened officially by His Excellency Dr. Alassane Ouattara, President of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, in the presence of his peers, heads of state from cocoa producing countries in the region and beyond.  In addition, the Conference will involve chief executives and senior officials from the world’s major cocoa and chocolate companies and will feature presentations from speakers representing the highest expertise in cocoa production, processing, trade, banking, insurance, shipping and many other fields in the world’s cocoa chain.

The Conference Presentations will address topical issues such as sustainable supply and demand, quality and safety, remunerative prices, certification, child labour, price volatility and speculation.

The World Cocoa Conference will also incorporate a major Trade Exhibition, involving participation from worldwide suppliers to the cocoa production and processing industries, including equipment manufacturers, banking, insurance, shipping and trading companies, and those concerns offering both raw cocoa and finished products, as well as a host of ancillary services.

A dedicated Partner Programme will allow accompanying guests to see the highlights of Côte d’Ivoire’s economic capital, Abidjan, and delegates will also be offered the chance to take part in Field Trips and Site Visits linked to the country’s cocoa industry.

Finally, the World Cocoa Conference will conclude with a Gala Evening, highlighted by local and regional musical and other cultural attractions, which will see all sectors of the cocoa trade and industry mix in the ultimate international networking opportunity.

The dates chosen for the World Cocoa Conference are the 19^th to the 23^rd November 2012, and the venue will be the five-star Hotel Ivoire InterContinental in Abidjan.

More details of the Conference programme, the Exhibition, the Social programme and Sponsorship opportunities will be available shortly on the ICCO website.