Cashew Industry Agrees on Guidelines for Growing Business in Africa

ImageMore than 200 cashew industry stakeholders from 24 countries attended the African Cashew Alliance's 5th annual conference in Maputo, Mozambique, from September 14th - 16th. (photo galery)

The event saw the participation of Joaquim Chissano, Mozambique's former President and ACA's Ambassador,Honorables Aires Bonifacio Aly, prime minister of Mozambique, Soares Nhaca, Minister of Agriculture of Mozambique, and Kwesi Ahwoi, Minister of Agriculture of Ghana, showing the interest of policy makers for the cashew industry and its possible developments.Image

The industry stakeholders developed and agreed on a declaration that advocates business environment changes to promote the industry's growth. Maputo Declaration will be disseminated to government policy makers who will be urged to adopt its recommendations in order to facilitate the industry's development.

They also established a Business Code of Conduct that sets basic standards on food safety, quality, social environment, corporate governance and respect of the environment. This code promotes the ACA's vision of a professional and responsible industry and will be a base to develop a brand for the industry.
Specialists from all over the world shared their experience and vision on how to improve and empower the cashew idustry during the plenary and working group sessions. More than 180 meetings were held during the B2B meetings to establish new business relationships, make contacts and strike deals.



ImageDuring the conference, the ACA members elected a new Executive committee. Mr. Cherif Hibrahima, a cashew processor and managing director of Agribusiness Company in Cote d'Ivoire was elected the new President of ACA. The other members of the Executive Committee are as follows : Mr. idrissa kilangi (vice president, cashew processor from Tanzania), Mr. Luis Soeiro (vice president, cashew processor from Mozambique), Mr. Abou-Bakr Adjibade (cashew processor from Benin), Mr. Ram Mohan (cashew trader from The Gambia), Partheeban Theodore (Olam), Kees Blokland (Global Trading).Download presentations below.