Tegucigalpa, Honduras.
The Council of the International Coffee Organization (ICO) at its 128th special session, recently held in London, United Kingdom, unanimously elected the Delegate of the European Union, John Muldowney, of Ireland, as President of the Council on behalf of the importing Members and Ambassador of Honduras, Iván Romero Martínez, as vice president on behalf of exporting members representing 98% of world coffee production.
The ICO initiated a series of reforms in order to update and actively respond to the member countries that make up, for this reason a high-level public-private task force was established in which it is Honduras and which also includes Brazil, Papua New Guinea, Colombia, Indonesia, Peru, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Mexico, Switzerland, the European Union, Nicaragua and Vietnam.
The recently signed London Declaration addresses market transparency, strengthening the international political environment, coordinating global funding, promoting responsible consumption, promoting competitive and sustainable production.
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The London Declaration has been signed by important players in the sector such as: ECOM Trading, Illycafe SPA, Jacobs Douwe Egberts (IDE), Lavazza SPA, Mercon
Nestlé SA, Neumann Kaffee Gruppe, Olam, Starbucks Coffee Company, Sucafina and Tchibo
Volcafe.
The London Declaration is also supported by: World Coffee Platform (GCIP), Sustainable Coffee Challenge (SCC), Fairtrade International, Hanns R. Neumann Stiftung, Sustainable Trade Initiative (HDI), United States National Coffee Association ‘America, Oikocredit, Rainforest Alliance, Rusteacoffee and Asociación de los Cafés de Calidad Especial.
Requests together
The Ambassador of Honduras, Iván Romero Martínez, in accepting his election unanimously, was demanded greater attention and help to the coffee production sectors, transparency and an update of the ICO to the current circumstances that require assistance, financial support through negotiations with international financial institutions and the fight for fairer and better coffee prices.
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In this way, the ICO has already initiated efforts to prepare and adopt a special program for Mesoamerica in which it would be involved in the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI), Regional Cooperative Program for Technological Development and Modernization of Caficulture (Promecafe) and other regional institutions.
The Executive Director of the ICO, José Sette, congratulated in writing to Ambassador Iván Romero Martínez for his election.
“In such difficult times, I can’t think of a better person than you to occupy the important place for which you have been chosen. The unanimous proposal made by its election by countries representing 97% of world coffee production in the coffee years 2015/16 and 2014/15, respectively, as well as its status as dean of representations, is excellent. Latin American diplomats in London, therefore, the Organization is in the best hands “, expressed Sette in the letter.
“In addition to his personal qualities, his choice is also a recognition of the importance of Honduras, the largest producer and exporter of coffee in Central America, as well as the fourth largest exporter of coffee in the world. I hope the ties that unite Honduras with the ICO can be further increased during its term “, added the CEO.
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and other countries have formalized their entry into the ICO from next year.