Asia Choco Congress 2013

THE COCOA world is moving rapidly and those who influence its activities are constantly seeking new vehicles for positive change and industry betterment. With this in mind, IMAPAC organised the programme for the forthcoming Asia Choco Congress 2013.

Scheduled for March 26-28, 2013 at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in the heart of Jakarta, this power-packed three day-conference will feature a lineup of world-renowned leaders and representation from policy-makers and the top cocoa and chocolate businesses around the world.

“Over the past few years cocoa and chocolate sector leaders around the world have been exploring new strategies to achieve a more sustainable cocoa economy.” says Joost Oorthuizen, IDH (Initiative Duurzame  Handel)  Sustainable Trade executive director and chairman of the Asia Choco Congress. “To accelerate and upscale these strategies, it is crucial that all involved parties work together.”

With  this  in  mind,  the  conference will focus on the most important issues affecting the industry today on a variety of thought-provoking panel discussions and enlightening sessions, an exclusive industry leaders roundtable and networking events.

With global industry support from major organisations, including the World Bank, United Nations and the top public and private stakeholders, Asia Choco Congress 2013 will be tackling regional and international challenges including the latest sustainability strategies, regulatory landscape, market growth and innovation that will invigorate the development of the industry.

Conference sponsors include Bühler, Cargill  and  Netzsch  and  some  of  the headliners joining the conference are:

? Fay Fay Choo, Asia Cocoa director,  Mars Inc., Singapore
? Tristan Borne, Cocoa and Chocolate  managing director, CEMOI, France
? Michiel  Hendriksz,  Director  of Sustainability, ADM Cocoa, Switzerland
? Dr Soetanto Abdoellah, chairman,  Indonesian Cocoa Board, Ministry of Agriculture, Indonesia and head of Research Division, Indonesian Coffee and Cocoa Research Institute
? Marc  Donaldson,  director  of  Sustainability, Petra Foods, Singapore
? Dr Lee Choon Hui, director general,  Malaysian Cocoa Board
? Jasbir  Singh,  general  manager,  Armajaro, Malaysia
? Judy Ganes-Chase, president, J. Ganes  Consulting, USA
? Mustafa Imir, Indonesia representative,  Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations

This event will bring together international and Asia’s cocoa growers, traders, millers processors, chocolate manufacturers, investors, technology bests and other crucial stakeholders to explore burgeoning business opportunities in the fastest growing confectionary region in the world and address global supply chain challenges, procurement strategies and investment opportunities at a time of price volatility and consumption growth.

The state of the industry

Despite  the  volatile  times  for  the cocoa industry, global sales for chocolate confectionery crossed the $100 billion mark in November 2011, according to Bloomberg analysis.

Moreover, consumption demand for chocolate and other cocoa derived products is expected to continue increasing in developed countries in the face of enduring recession, and to remain strong in developing countries, with China and India’s demand projected to grow at 20% a year.

In Asia, the Indonesian government has been encouraging the growth of downstream industries with a debated cocoa export tax and other initiatives. This regulatory environment also favored the entry of foreign players into the Indonesian processing and confectionary sectors, with a growing trend of these global stakeholders setting a stronger footNew Arrivals