World cocoa producers to prod RI into group<\/p>\n
KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): World cocoa producers decided here
\nyesterday to dispatch a ministerial delegation to prod Indonesia
\ninto joining a producers' grouping and cooperate to limit supply
\nand lift prices, officials said.<\/p>\n
"It will not be fair to ask us to rationalize supply when
\nIndonesia is enjoying the fruit of all our labor," said a senior
\ndelegate at the end of the three-day 57th General Assembly of the
\n13-member Cocoa Producers' Alliance (CPA) here.<\/p>\n
"We have been talking in vain for three years about a
\nproduction management plan. Everyone is asking for higher
\nquotas ... We know the plan is not going to work without
\nIndonesia," the delegate said.<\/p>\n
The assembly resolved that a CPA ministerial delegation be
\nsent to persuade Indonesia to join the alliance so that a
\nproduction management plan of the fifth 1993 International Cocoa
\nAgreement could be implemented successfully.<\/p>\n
Indonesia, which produced an estimated 220,000 tons of cocoa
\nlast year, ranks as the world's fourth largest producer.<\/p>\n
"It is envisaged that Jakarta's output could grow to 500,000
\ntons a year by the end of the decade to become the second largest
\nafter the Ivory Coast," said a delegate from Malaysia.<\/p>\n
Malaysia's Primary Industries Minister Lim Keng Yaik, in
\nopening the assembly Monday, had called on Indonesia to join the
\nCPA.<\/p>\n
"We should spare no effort to bring Indonesia and all other
\nproducing countries together in solidarity to avoid being
\nmanipulated," another delegate at the meeting said.<\/p>\n
Lim on Monday called for the formation of an International
\nCocoa Study Group to collect up-to-date data to prevent any
\nmanipulation of supply and demand figures aimed at depressing the
\nmarket.<\/p>\n
Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad last week accused
\nchocolate makers in developed nations of withholding benefits
\nfrom cocoa producers in developing nations, saying: "It is
\nanother classic example of the rich living off the poor."<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/world-cocoa-producers-to-prod-ri-into-group-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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