World Cocoa Conference adds three events to its programme

London, 19 February 2016 – As part of the World Cocoa Conference, set for 22 – 25 May at the Barceló Bávaro Convention Center in Bávaro, Dominican Republic, three extra events will enrich the programme of the world’s largest cocoa gathering, the ICCO has just announced.

Immediately prior to the opening of the Conference, in a full-day session on Sunday 22 May, the Cocoa Producers’ Forum will encourage cocoa farmers from all over the world to get together, share experiences and harmonize their ideas in advance of the more formal business and technical sessions. Farmers representing the major cocoa growing regions are due to attend, and the meeting is free of charge to all farmers participating in the World Cocoa Conference.

Working with the international civil society organization Solidaridad, the ICCO is organizing the Women in Cocoa networking event, aimed to get women in the cocoa value chain better connected, and to strengthen networks. The fast-paced event will include short informal presentations, round tables with ‘speed dating’ for participants and demonstrations of food and cocoa products. The event is scheduled for the evening of Monday, 23 May, and will be open free of charge to all registered female participants at the Conference.

Last but not least, and taking place on Thursday, 26 May, immediately after the conclusion of the Conference main sessions, the day-long Fine or Flavour Cocoa Forum is being held to bring together all the participants in the fine or flavour part of the cocoa community. Cocoa growers, exporters and chocolate industry representatives (from the smallest chocolatiers to the large players), are most welcome to attend the Forum, which is being co-organized by the ICCO with direct trade fine cacao organization Direct Cacao. Once again, the Forum is free of charge to registered participants at the Conference.

All of these events are in addition to the main Conference, which runs from the official opening of the Exhibition on the afternoon of Sunday, 22 May to the final Gala Dinner on the evening of Wednesday, 25 May. Already hundreds of delegates have registered for the Conference, which will gather all parts of the cocoa value chain to Bávaro. Hosted by the Government of the Dominican Republic, the event will be officially opened by the country’s President, H E Mr. Danilo Medina Sánchez, and addressed by senior representatives of cocoa producing and consuming country governments, as well as cocoa farmers from around the world, and over 100 speakers and panellists from the cocoa trade, the cocoa and chocolate industry, civil society and ancillary businesses.

For more details of the World Cocoa Conference, including the three extra events, and details of accommodation at discounted rates at the adjacent all-incusive hotels, please click on the logo below to visit the Conference website.