report of the 17th meeting on the national focal point for the asean cocoa club

8/12/2019 Report of the 17th Meeting on the National Focal Point for the Asean Cocoa Club

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Report of the 17thACC Meeting, 78 May 2014, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia Page 1 of 14

THE 17THMEETING OF THE NATIONAL FOCAL POINT FOR THE

ASEAN COCOA CLUBON ASEAN COOPERATION AND JOINT APPROACHES INAGRICULTURE AND FOREST PRODUCTS PROMOTION SCHEME

78 May 2014

The Pacific Sutera Hotel, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia

INTRODUCTION

1. The 17th Meeting of the National Focal Point for the ASEAN Cocoa Club onASEAN Cooperation and Joint Approaches in Agriculture and Forest ProductsPromotion Scheme was held on 78 May 2014 at the Pacific Sutera Hotel, KotaKinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia.

FINAL


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2. The Meeting was attended by 34 delegates from the government and privatesectors of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam.The list of delegates appears in Annex 1.

OPENING CEREMONY

Welcoming Remarks from the Chairman of the ASEAN Cocoa Club (ACC)

3. The Chairman of the ACC, Dr. Lee Choon Hui, Director General of the MalaysianCocoa Board (MCB) expressed his appreciation and gratitude to the HonourableYang Berhormat Dato Noriah Binti Kasnon, Deputy Minister of PlantationIndustries and Commodities, Malaysia for kindly consented to officiate the 17 thMeeting of the National Focal Point for the ASEAN Cocoa Club on the ASEANCooperation and Joint Approaches in Agriculture and Forest Products PromotionScheme on behalf of His Excellency Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, Ministerof Plantation Industries and Commodities, Malaysia.

4. He expressed his sincere appreciation and gratitude to Yang Berhormat DeputyMinister of Plantation Industries and Commodities, Malaysia for her untiringsupport and commitment to ensure a sustainable cocoa economy and industry inMalaysia.

5. He also extended his warmest welcome to all the delegates from Indonesia,Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam to the 17

thMeeting of

the National Focal Points for ASEAN Cocoa Club on ASEAN Cooperation andJoint Approaches in Agriculture and Forest Products Promotion Scheme andthanked all delegates for attending the Meeting.

6. In his welcoming remarks, he emphasized that Malaysia as the coordinator of theACC is committed to continue to work on achieving ACC objectives to strengthenand enhance the IntraASEAN trade on cocoa and cocoa products. The effortwould require close cooperation among the ASEAN member countries andachieving all tantamount to a Blue Ocean Strategy.

7. He also highlighted that the changes in the world cocoa scenario and particularlyin the ASEAN region, has brought new challenges and issues. The closecooperation among ASEAN member countries in meeting these new challengeswould be a force to be reckoned with. The welcoming remarks of the Chairman of

the ACC appears in Annex 2.


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Opening Address of the Deputy Minister of Plantation Industries and

Commodities, Malaysia

8. Yang Berhormat Dato Noriah Binti Kasnon, Deputy Minister of PlantationIndustries and Commodities, Malaysia expressed her appreciation for the invitation

to deliver the keynote address and officiate the 17

th

Meeting of the National FocalPoints for the ASEAN Cocoa Club on ASEAN Cooperation and Joint Approachesin Agriculture and Forest Products Promotion Scheme on behalf of the Minister ofPlantation Industries and Commodities, Malaysia.

9. In her opening address, she extended a very warm welcome and Selamat Datangto all the delegates from ASEAN member countries namely Indonesia, thePhilippines, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam to the ACC Meeting and thankedall delegates for attending the Meeting.

10. She also congratulated the ACC Technical Working Group on Food Safety

(TWGFS) and Technical Working Group on Good Agricultural Practices(TWGGAP) for successfully concluding their meetings on the 6thMay 2014.

11. She highlighted that the cocoa industry in ASEAN has been expanding rapidly andhas attained significant recognition in the global market. Currently, the ASEANcountries rank as the second largest producer of cocoa beans in the world and thelargest in the Asia and Oceania region. The cocoa production of the ASEANcountries estimated at 436,200 tonnes, accounted for about 11.1% of the totalworld cocoa production for the period 2012/2013.The total grindings estimated at648,600 tonnes, accounted for 15.9% of the total world cocoa grinding in2012/2013. ASEAN as a region is the largest cocoa processor in the Asia and

Oceania region, contributing about 76.7% of the total cocoa grindings in thisregion.

12. She also highlighted that the cocoa industry in ASEAN has attained significantrecognition in the global market in both perspective of cocoa beans production andmarketing of cocoa products.

13. She urged the ACC to work closely and act collectively in coming up with thenecessary measures that can be used to overcome issues and challenges facingthe cocoa industries. She also highlighted that continuous cooperation andnetworking from the ASEAN member countries will further strengthen the ASEANmember countries position in the global market and enhance the intraASEANtrade on cocoa and cocoa products. The full text of the Ministers speech appearsin Annex 3.


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AGENDA ITEM 1: OPENING REMARKS

14. The Chairman of the ACC, Dr. Lee Choon Hui, Director General of the MCBexpressed his sincere gratitude and appreciation to all the delegates fromIndonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam for

attending the 17

th

ACC Meeting. He hoped that all ten ASEAN member countriescould be present at the next meeting. He also thanked the Local OrganizingCommittee from MCB and the ACC Secretariat for their hard work andcommitment in successfully organizing this Meeting.

AGENDA ITEM 2: ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN AND VICECHAIRMAN

15. Dr. Lee Choon Hui, Director General of the MCB was unanimously elected as theChairman of the 17thACC Meeting and Mr. Edward David, President of the CocoaFoundation of the Philippines as the ViceChairman.

AGENDA ITEM 3: ADOPTION OF AGENDA

16. The Meeting adopted the Agenda of the 17thACC Meeting appears in Annex 4.

AGENDA ITEM 4: BUSINESS ARRANGEMENTS

17. The Meeting was held in plenary.

AGENDA ITEM 5: COUNTRY PRESENTATION ON THE LATEST DEVELOPMENT

OF THE COCOA INDUSTRY IN MALAYSIA

18. Dr. Lee Choon Hui, Director General of the MCB presented the latest developmentof the cocoa industry in Malaysia which covered the following:

i. The cocoa economy in the world and Malaysia.ii. Research and Development (R&D) achievements on the following:

a. Planting materialsb. Crop Physiology and Agronomyc. Crop Protectiond. Bean processing and qualitye. Product development for food and nonfood

iii. Technology transfer

iv. Entrepreneur Development Programme.The slide presentation appears in Annex 5.


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19. The Meeting noted the request by the Philippines for Malaysia to exchange thehigh yielding clonal materials with the Philippines. Malaysia responded that theexchange of the planting materials is being carried out under the Ingenic AsiaPacific Group Collaborative Project and there should be no problem to facilitate theexchange of planting materials.

AGENDA ITEM 6: MATTERS ARISING FROM THE PREPSOM35THAMAF, 2324

SEPTEMBER 2013; PREPSOM13TH AMAF PLUS THREE, 25TH SEPTEMBER

2013; 35TH AMAF, 26TH SEPTEMBER 2013 AND 13TH AMAF PLUS THREE, 27TH

SEPTEMBER 2013 IN KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA

20. The ACC Secretariat presented the report of these meetings provided by theASEAN Secretariat. There was no ACC related matter and no followup neededby the ACC from the PREPSOM35th AMAF, 2324 September 2013;PREPSOM13th AMAF Plus Three, 25th September 2013; 35th AMAF, 26thSeptember 2013 and 13th AMAF Plus Three, 27th September 2013 in Kuala

Lumpur, Malaysia.

AGENDA ITEM 7: MATTERS ARISING FROM THE 20THMEETING OF THE JOINTCOMMITTEE ON ASEAN COOPERATION AND JOINT APPROACHES IN

AGRICULTURE AND FOREST PRODUCTS PROMOTION SCHEME, 1012 JULY

2013 IN PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, PALAWAN, PHILIPPINES

21. The ACC Secretariat presented the report of the 20th Meeting of the JointCommittee on ASEAN Cooperation in Agriculture and Forest Products PromotionScheme held on 1012 July 2013 in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, Philippines as

provided by the ASEAN Secretariat. There was no ACC related matter and nofollowup needed by the ACC from this meeting.

AGENDA ITEM 8: ENHANCE INTRAAND EXTRAASEAN TRADE AND LONG

TERM COMPETITIVENESS OF ASEANS FOOD, AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY

PRODUCTS/COMMODITIES

8.1 Tariff and NonTariff Barriers on Cocoa Beans and Cocoa Products

8.1.1 Common Effective Preferential Tariffs (CEPT) Scheme/ASEAN Trade in

Goods Agreement (ATIGA)

22. The Meeting was informed by Indonesia that ATIGA replaced the CEPT schemeas from 2010 subsequent to the ratification of the CEPT scheme in 2009. As of2014, all ASEAN member countries have implemented zero import tariffs on cocoabeans and cocoa products with the exception of Cambodia, Myanmar and Viet


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Nam. These countries impose import tariffs between 0 5% for several cocoaproducts. The ATIGA tariff reduction schedule for 2014 appears in Ann ex 6.

8.1.2 ASEAN Free Trade Area (FTA) between ASEAN and other countries

23. Indonesia reported that the tariff imposition on cocoa beans and products is zeropercent for ASEANAustralia FTA and ASEANChina FTA. Under the ASEANNew Zealand FTA, New Zealand is still imposing import tariffs of 5% on chocolateand other food preparations containing cocoa. The import tariff for ASEANIndiaFTA is 10% for cocoa butter, fat and oil. The FTAs and the tariffs schedules

appear in Ann ex 7.

8.1.3 Most Favoured Nation (MFN) Tariffs

24. The Meeting noted the report presented by Indonesia on MFN tariffs rates inASEAN member countries ranging from 035%.

8.1.4 NonTariff Barriers (NTBs)

25. Indonesia reported that no NTBs were imposed by ASEAN member countries.

8.2 Technical Working Group on Good Agriculture Practices (TWGGAP)

26. Dr. Divina M. Amalin the Chairperson of the ACC TWGGAP reported the progressreport of the 3rdMeeting of the ACC TWGGAP.

27. The Meeting was informed that the 3rdACC TWGGAP Meeting was held on 6th

May 2014 at the Pacific Sutera Hotel, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia. TheMeeting was attended by 17 participants including observers. The ASEANmember countries present were Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand,and Viet Nam. Dr. Divina M. Amalin from the Philippines was designated as theChairperson and Mr. Haya Bin Ramba of Malaysia was elected as the ViceChairman.

28. On the Presentation of GAP for Cocoa by ASEAN member countries,Dr. Amalinpresented the update of the project on the use of fine clay as a biocoating agentagainst cacao mirid bug in the Philippines. Three studies were conducted namelyLaboratory, Field Cage and Open Field Assessments. The results of the

experiments showed good potential of kaolin on the management of cacao miridbug. She also mentioned the potential of the used of coconutbased laundry soapas a repellent against cacao mirid bug. The study on the open field assessment isongoing and the results of the trial will be presented in the next ACC TWGGAPmeeting.


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29. Other ASEAN member countries also shared information on the GAP for cocoa.Malaysia presented the Cocoa Planting Manual for Sustainable Cocoa, which waspublished last year. Thailand shared information on the GAP for coffee currentlyused in Thailand which is quite similar to the GAP for cocoa.

30. The Meeting was also informed that the Working Group is able to come up with thefirst draft of the ASEAN GAP for cocoa. The framework includes: Site History andManagement, Planting Materials, Soil and Substrates, Fertilizers and Soil

Additives, Water, Chemical Pesticides and Biopesticides, Harvesting and HandlingProcedure, Waste and Energy Efficiency, Biodiversity, Traceability and Recall.The full report of this meeting appears in Annex 8.

31. The Meeting noted the appeal by the TWGGAP for ASEAN member countries tonominate their representatives comprising of two technical and two nontechnicalto the TWGGAP Secretariat as stated in the TWGGAP Term of Reference (TOR).

32. The Meeting noted the response by the TWGGAP Chairperson on Malaysiasquery that personal hygiene is included in the ASEAN GAP For Cocoa Production.

8.3 Technical Working Group on Food Safety (TWGFS)

33. Dr. Sabariah Samsudin, the Chairperson of the ACC TWGFS reported theprogress report for the 6thMeeting of the ACC TWGFS.

34. She informed that the 6thMeeting of the ACC TWGFS was held on 6thMay 2014 atthe Pacific Sutera Hotel. Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia. The Meeting was cochaired by Ms. Karen Kristine A. Roscom, OICExecutive Director, Bureau of

Agriculture and Fisheries Standards, Department of Agriculture, the Philippinesand attended by 14 members and observers from Indonesia, Malaysia, thePhilippines, Singapore, Thailand, Viet Nam and Secretariat of the ACC TWGFS.

35. The highlights of the report are as follows:

i. Indonesia reported that there was no residues of cypermethrin was detectedduring the monitoring on pesticide residues in five provinces for the year2013.

ii. The Philippines informed that the monitoring of Ochratoxin A in thePhilippines cocoa beans and cocoa products and the Pilot Testing of aTraceability System for Philippines Cacao Beans Project were completed inyear 2013.


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iii. Malaysia informed that Food Safety measures were undertaken by Malaysiaon imported food products including raw materials and related ingredientsunder the Food Act 1983 and Food Regulations 1985.

iv. Philippines also reported on their national initiatives related to food safety of

cocoa since May 2013 as well as the upcoming activity for the year 2014.The major activities were as follows:

Philippine Food Safety Act of 2013

three latest approved Philippine National Standards related to cocoa in2013; and

Proposed capacity building activity related to cocoa in 2014.

v. Philippines expressed their concern pertaining to the incorporation of cocoashell into cocoa powder that can affect the quality and food safety of thecocoa powder.

vi. Indonesia reported on the monitoring of cadmium in cocoa bean from 5provinces in year 2013. The cadmium levels were 0.0526 mg/kg (minimum)and 0.303 mg/kg (maximum), while the average concentration was 0.1 mg/kgwith limit of detection (LOD) of 0.015 mg/kg.

vii. Malaysia informed on the monitoring of cadmium content in cocoa powdersproduced by Malaysian cocoa grinders. The cadmium content for natural andalkalized cocoa powder ranged from not detected (at 0.005 mg/kg) 0.68mg/kg and 0.120.75 mg/kg respectively.

viii. Malaysia informed the Meeting that data on thirteen pesticide residues incocoa beans; cadmium and lead in cocoa beans; and microorganisms count,yeast and mold count in cocoa and chocolate products have been uploadedon the ACC TWGFS website.

ix. The TWGFS agreed to adopt the ASEAN Code of Practice for the Preventionand Reduction of Ochratoxin A, contamination in cocoa beans and the finaldocument was endorsed at the 17thMeeting of the National Focal Points for

ASEAN Cocoa Club on Joint ASEAN Cooperation in Agriculture and ForestProducts Promotion Scheme.

x. Malaysia informed on the Cocoa Safe Project on Capacity Building andKnowledge Sharing in Sanitary and Phytosanitary Standard (SPS) in Cocoain South East Asia.

The full report of the TWGFS meeting appears in Ann ex 9.


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36. The Meeting agreed that any improvements on the ASEAN Code of Practice forthe Prevention and Reduction of Ochratoxin AContamination in Cocoa Beans canbe discussed at the ACC Meeting.

AGENDA ITEM 9: PROMOTE COOPERATION, JOINT APPROACHES AND

TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER AMONG ASEAN MEMBER STATES ANDINTERNATIONAL, REGIONAL, ORGANIZATION AND PRIVATE SECTOR

9.1 Trials on Selected Cocoa Progenies in Selected ASEAN Region

37. The Meeting was informed that the Joint Progeny Trial Programme in Indonesiawas started in December 2005. The objective of the trial is to test promising cocoahybrids in Indonesia and Malaysia using similar progenies and to select thesuperior genotype clonal material resistance to pest and disease.

38. Indonesia reported that the yield performance based on pod number per tree

during the year of 20092013 indicated significant differences among testedhybrids. Generally the number of pods per tree were low due to Vascular StreakDieback (VSD) infection. The hybrids having a higher number of pods per treewere C 1038 x BR 25, C1038 x QH 22, KKM 22 x NA 33, and PBC 159 x NA 33.The best selected tree is the cross PBC 123 x BR 25.

39. The Meeting was also informed that the hybrids have different responses to VSDinfection. The hybrids C 1038 x BR 25, PBC 123 x QH 22, PBC 159 x QH 22, TSH858 x KW 162 were strong on their resistance to VSD. The results are fromexperiments done in the field. The full report by Indonesia appears in Ann ex 10.

40. The Meeting took note on the VSD Assessment Scoring requested by thePhilippines and Indonesia would forward an explanation in the next meeting.

41. Malaysia reported that the trial was established in April 2006 under the ASEANCocoa Club Joint Project with an objective to produce hybrids population whichpossesses good flavor, yield and acceptable bean characteristics. The twoinstitutions involved in the project are the MCB and Indonesian Coffee and CocoaResearch Institute (ICCRI).

42. The results showed that none of the progenies significantly outperformed thecontrol for yield. The KW 162 x KEE 2 had the highest yield and KW162 x KW163

and KW162 x KEE2 are among the progenies that had VSD score lower than thecontrol progeny. The full report appears in Annex 11.

9.2 Project on Pest and Diseases (P&D) Management


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43. Malaysia informed the Meeting that three areas of research collaboration are asfollows:

i. Cocoa Pod Borer (CPB)ii. VSD

iii. Black pod diseases (BP)

44. Only one project proposal on Particle Film Technology as a Pest Control Strategyin Sustainable Cacao Production has been prepared by Malaysia and Indonesia.The project proposal in Malaysia is in the process of submission to the Ministry ofScience, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) for funding. The full report appearsin Ann ex 12.

9.3 Training and Exchange of Technical Expertise and Research Materials

45. The Meeting took note on the ongoing training and exchange of technical

expertise and research materials as follows:

i. Training on the needs of the respective member countries that require theexpertise and facilities from member countries.

ii. Exchange of expertise through visit of scientist within the ASEAN membercountries.

iii. Courses on cocoa bean grading and basic chocolate making.iv. Exchange of materials on a reciprocal basis.

46. Malaysia reported that the exchange of cocoa hybrid seeds has been carried out in2013 and were made through the Regional Cocoa Hybrid Trial under the Ingenic

AsiaPacific Group Collaborative Projects. Institutions involved in the trial arefrom MCB, Malaysia, Nong Lam University Viet Nam, University of SouthernMindanao Philippines and ICCRI, Indonesia. The full report appears in Ann ex 13.

47. The Meeting suggested the committee under the Ingenic group to organize ameeting to discuss the exchange of cocoa hybrid seeds for 2014.

9.4 Enhancement of Private Sector Involvement

9.4.1 Cocoa Association of Asia (CAA)

48. Mr. Brandon Tay Hoe Lian,member of the CAA presented the latest developmenton the programmes and activities carried out by the CAA. He informed theMeeting that the CAA is a commercial association and currently has 21 members.

49. He informed the Meeting that CAA continues to support the collaboration projectbetween CAA and Nong Lam University, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam that is now in


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its second year to help farmers boost productivity of mature farms through trainingof best practices. The slide presentation appears in Ann ex 14.

50. In respond to the CAA membership status, Mr. Brandon informed the Meeting thatthe CAA membership comprises of major grinders, chocolate manufacturers and

traders in Asia. The Philippines has shown high interest of becoming a member ofCAA.

9.4.2 Cocoa Manufacturers Group (CMG)

51. The Meeting noted the status development and the activities conducted by theCMG for 2013 presented by Mr. Brandon Tay Hoe Lian,the Chairman of the CMG.

52. He informed the Meeting that the CMG membership comprises of six cocoagrinders and Federation of Cocoa Manufacturers as the acting secretariat of theCMG.

53. He highlighted that the challenge faced by the CMG members is the new ruling onthe Import Requirements for Importation of Plants, Plants Products and Regulated

Articles into Malaysia which started in March 2013. This has resulted in the delayof shipment clearance at destination ports and has incurred extra cost to theimporter. The slide presentation appears in Ann ex 15.

54. He also informed the Meeting that due to the difficulties to get beans supply, heforecasted that the Malaysia cocoa grinding volume could reduce to around250,000 tonnes in 2014.

55. The Meeting noted the information from the representative of the Plant BiosecurityDivision, Department of Agriculture (DOA) Malaysia on the import regulation. TheDOA will compile all the complainants from the exporters and will take note on theresponses.

9.4.3 Indonesia Cocoa Association (ASKINDO)

56. Indonesia informed the Meeting that there was no report from ASKINDO.

9.4.4 Indonesia Cocoa Industry Association (AIKI)

57. Indonesia informed the Meeting that there is no representative from AIKI topresent the report. However, AIKI has sent their report on the activities for 2013 to2014.

58. Indonesia reported that the cocoa bean production in 2013 was 482,248 tonnesand represents a slight increase of 5% from 460,083 tonnes in 2012. The grinding


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capacity in Indonesia continued to grow positively from 268,288 tonnes in 2011 to310,796 tonnes in 2012 and reached 324,122 tonnes in 2013. The positive figuresof the grinding capacity will likely continue this year due to the new investment onprocessing plants.

59. The increase in grinding capacity has also increased the import volume of cocoabeans by 28% from 23,943 tonnes in 2012 to 30,766 tonnes in 2013. AIKIestimated that the import of cocoa beans in Indonesia will gradually increase in thefuture.

60. Indonesia also reported on other activities of AIKI in 2013 and 2014 as follows:

i. The Indonesia Cocoa Workshop with a theme Increasing Productivity andQuality Towards a Sustainable Cocoa Indonesia and Cocoa Day Expo atMall Taman Anggrek from 18th22ndSeptember 2013 to commemorate The1stIndonesian Cocoa Day, jointly organized by the Indonesian Cocoa Board

and Indonesian government. The events were successfully held to promotethe Indonesian cocoa and chocolate industry.

ii. The 6thIndonesian International Cocoa Conference and Cocoa Dinner 2014,will be held on 1516 May 2014 at The Westin Resort Nusa Dua, Bali,Indonesia organized by ASKINDO together with the World Cocoa Foundation(WCF) and Indonesian Cocoa Board. The theme is EmpoweringSmallholders For A Sustainable Cocoa Industry. Indonesia invited all

ASEAN member countries to participate in the event.

61. Indonesia also highlighted their difficulties in exporting alkalized cocoa powder toIndia due to the enactment of a new standard for cocoa powder by the FoodSafety & Standard Authority of India (FSSAI). The update on status developmentof cocoa industry in Indonesia appears in Ann ex 16.

9.4.5 Cocoa Foundation of the Philippines (CocoaPhil)

62. Mr. Edward F. David, President of the CocoaPhil presented the development ofthe cocoa industry in the Philippines covering the following:

i. CocoaPhil partnership engagement in private and public sectorsii. Propagation of quality planting materialsiii. Postharvest processing activities including fermentation, drying, sorting and

grading of dry cocoa beans, packaging and marketingiv. Capacity building for sustainable cocoa farmingv. Ongoing projects carried out by CocoaPhil


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63. He also informed the Meeting that the cocoa planting expansion in the Philippinesis being carried out nationwide by both government agencies and agriculturalbased private institutions. Government projects include the National GreeningProgram (NGP) by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and thecoconut intercropping program by the Department of Agriculture The Philippine

Coconut Authority. His slide presentation appears in Ann ex 17.

64. Philippines also informed the Meeting that they have successfully doubled thecocoa production from 6,000 tonnes in 2011 to 12,000 tonnes in 2013.

65. In response to Viet Namsquestion on how to encourage farmers to plant cocoa,the Philippines suggested intercropping cocoa with other crops such as durian,coconut and cashew nuts and enhance on capacity building for farmers.

AGENDA ITEM 10: OTHER MATTERS

10.1 ASEAN Cocoa Club National Focal Point

66. The ACC Secretariat updated the Meeting on the current National Focal Points2014 submitted by the member countries which appears in Ann ex 18.

67. The Meeting was informed that the total number of memberships of the ASEANCocoa Club National Focal Points in 2014 remains at 27 with the inclusion of twofocal points from Viet Nam.

68. The ASEAN member countries are requested to inform of any changes in theirfocal points to the ACC Secretariat.

10.2 Coffee and Tea Meeting in Thailand

69. Thailand informed the Meeting that the Coffee and Tea Meeting will be organizedby Thailand from 2427 June, 2014 in Bangkok and invited all relevant agenciesfrom member countries to participate.

AGENDA 11: DATE AND VENUE OF THE NEXT MEETING

70. The Meeting unanimously agreed for Thailand to organize the 18thACC Meetingon the ASEAN Cooperation and Joint Approaches in Agriculture and Forest

Products Promotion Scheme to be held tentatively in May 2015.

AGENDA 12: ADOPTION OF THE REPORT

71. The Meeting unanimously adopted the Report of the 17thMeeting of the ASEANCocoa Club on the ASEAN Cooperation and Joint Approaches in Agriculture and


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Forest Products Promotion Scheme held on 78 May 2014 at the Pacific SuteraHotel, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

72. In his closing remarks, the Chairman expressed his gratitude and thank alldelegates for their active participation in the meeting. It had been a fruitful twodays meeting and he was glad that there have been progresses made on theprogrammes and activities planned last year. He also thanked the LocalOrganizing Committee and the ACC Secretariat for their support, hard work andmaking this Meeting happening in Malaysia.

73. The delegation of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand andViet Nam expressed their sincere appreciation to the Malaysian Government inparticular the Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities Malaysia and theMCB for the warm hospitality accorded to them and the excellent arrangements

made for the Meeting as well as the ACC Secretariat and the Local OrganizingCommittee of Malaysia for their hard work and team cooperation rendered inensuring the successful of the Meeting.

74. The Meeting was held in the traditional spirit of ASEAN cordially and solidarity.

Ko ta Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia8 May 2014

report of the 17th meeting on the national focal point for the asean cocoa club

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