World Cocoa conference holds in Dominican Republic


London, 11 May 2016--About 1,000 participants from 60 countries are expected at the third edition of the
World Cocoa Conference, scheduled to take place from Sunday, 22 May to Wednesday 25 May at the
Barceló Bávaro Convention Center in Bávaro, Dominican Republic.
The Conference, which will be accompanied by an adjacent Exhibition, will include 24 panel sessions and
about 140 moderators, presenters and panellists looking at all of the most important issues in cocoa and
chocolate. Included among the many topics will be tracks on the future of cocoa production, advances in
markets and trading, and strengthening sustainability in the sector.
To be opened in the presence of His Excellency Mr. Danilo Medina Sánchez, President of the Dominican
Republic, the Conference will also include remarks by government ministers from five countries, keynote
presentations from some of the largest chocolate manufacturers and cocoa processors in the world, and
discussions with some of the top experts in the entire cocoa and chocolate value chain.
Crucial to that value chain are the cocoa farmers, who will be the main focus of a special day-long
Producers’ Forum on 22 May, and farmers from all of the world’s major producing countries are already
set to take part in all aspects of the Conference.
The increasingly significant role of women in the cocoa industry is also to be highlighted by a special
networking function organized with partner NGO Solidaridad on 23 May, and another side event, in
conjunction with the organization Direct Cacao, aims to share knowledge and increase business for high
quality cocoa and chocolate at a forum dedicated to the highly valued fine and flavour cocoa (on 26 May).
Just announced for Conference attendees is another highlight, an in-depth seminar on the role and functioning
of the cocoa futures markets, from an experienced and expert viewpoint.
The wide-ranging event will serve as the gathering place for the whole world’s cocoa and chocolate sector
during the final week in May, as the Conference immediately precedes the International Cocoa Council’s
meeting of Member countries of the ICCO.
The bi-annual Conference, to be held for the first time in the Western Hemisphere, is taking place with the

generous assistance of the Government of the Dominican Republic and the Comisión Nacional del Cacao

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