ABIDJAN, Côte d’Ivoire — The Executive Director, Mr. Michel Arrion, on behalf of the International Cocoa Organization, has expressed sincere condolences to the Government and people of Indonesia, following the earthquake and tsunami that devastated parts of the island of Sulawesi in late September.
It appears as of this date that well over 1,500 people have been killed and many more injured, displaced or made homeless by the disaster. Besides the destruction and loss of life, it appears that infrastructure has been severely affected as well, where aid is most desperately needed.
The island of Sulawesi is the most important cocoa producing area in the country and many farmers could well be affected by the effects of the earthquake and tsunami.
The Organization would like to show its firm support to Indonesia, as an important Member country. The ICCO would also encourage all Member and Observer countries, as well as its partners in the cocoa and chocolate industry, to liaise with the Indonesian government in order to assist in any way possible.
