Makassar to host cocoa conference<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Makassar, South Sulawesi<\/p>\n
As many as 383 businesspeople, industry experts and farmers
\nfrom across the world will participate in the Third International
\nCocoa Conference being held on Oct. 24 and Oct. 25 in Makassar,
\nSouth Sulawesi, organizers said.<\/p>\n
The province is the country's main cocoa producer, and
\nIndonesia is the world's second largest producer of the commodity
\nafter the Ivory Coast.<\/p>\n
Abdul Halim Razak, the head of the conference's organizing
\ncommittee, said here on Tuesday the 383 participants included 120
\noverseas citizens from the United States, Europe, Africa and
\nAsia.<\/p>\n
They are expected to arrive in Makassar one or two days before
\nthe conference, Abdul said during a press conference attended by
\nSouth Sulawesi Governor HZB Palaguna and provincial police chief
\nSr. Comr. Andi Hasanudin.<\/p>\n
Abdul said the press conference was called to calm the
\nconcerns of some delegates over security following the bomb
\nattacks over the weekend in Bali, which killed more than 180
\npeople, mostly foreign tourists.<\/p>\n
Abdul said several participants from the U.S. and Britain had
\nquestioned security during the event.<\/p>\n
He said some participants had considered canceling their trips
\nto Makassar, but decided to attend the conference after receiving
\nsecurity assurances from the organizing committee.<\/p>\n
\"Thus far, only four people have decided to pull out of the
\nconference following the Bali incident,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Palaguna assured the conference participants that Makassar was
\nsafe.<\/p>\n
\"I, as the governor, guarantee complete security during the
\nconference,\" he said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/makassar-to-host-cocoa-conference-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}