29 Signatories to the Abidjan Cocoa Declaration take the first step to a sustainable sector
Some 29 organizations and countries operating across the spectrum of the international cocoa sector by 30 November had signed the ground-breaking Abidjan Cocoa Declaration, the ICCO revealed today.
The cocoa sector stakeholders, ranging from cocoa growers through their governments to civil society and most of the world’s largest manufacturers of chocolate, began the signing procedure at a special ceremony that concluded the World Cocoa Conference in Abidjan last week. A number of additional stakeholders were able to sign the Declaration after the Conference as well, and the Declaration remains open at ICCO headquarters in London to allow more cocoa stakeholder organizations to sign it.
The Abidjan Cocoa Declaration, which recommends specific and measurable actions to achieve a sustainable cocoa economy, reflects the more detailed proposals of the Global Cocoa Agenda. The important issues highlighted by the Agenda formed the basis of many of the presentations, discussions and panel sessions that took place at the World Cocoa Conference.
The Declaration is to be the first step in an ongoing process aimed at creating a sustainable future for the cocoa sector and helping to ensure that its benefits are shared along the entire chain, starting with the growers. Another World Cocoa Conference is planned in 2014 to monitor and review the progress made dealing with the issues outlined by the Declaration and the Agenda.
The signatories to the Abidjan Cocoa Declaration by 30 November 2012:
- Côte d’Ivoire
- Ghana
- Cameroon
- Ecuador
- The Democratic Republic of Congo
- Togo
- Papua New Guinea
- The ACP Group of States
- IDH
- CAOBISCO
- ECA
- WCF
- ICI
- FCC
- HCCO
- Talents
- Mars
- Mondelez International
- Nestlé
- Ferrero Trading
- CEMOI
- Petra Foods
- Barry Callebaut
- Cargill
- ADM
- Armajaro Trading
- Touton
- Olam International / Outspan Ivoire
- Amtrada / Continaf
