4C Association expands activities in Vietnam

DA LAT – The 4C Association announced the opening of its fourth regional Office, in Vietnam, during a major Workshop on Sustainable Coffee Development. It was held in collaboration with the Vietnamese Department of Crop Production, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (Mard) on Dec 4th, 2009 in Da Lat, Vietnam. After two years of operation in close cooperation with Mard, currently there are twelve registered and verified 4C Units in Vietnam. The production potential of these 4C Units accounts for 1.4 million bags of 4C Compliant Coffee.

The 80 participating national and international representatives, amongst them Vietnamese Government officials from the central and provincial levels, 4C Association’s Executive Board and Council, Vietnamese coffee companies, research institutions and support organizations, applauded this next step towards intensified support and interaction amongst 4C Members and Partners in Asia, especially Vietnam.

4C’s new local representative, Mr Do Ngoc Sy, has been officially introduced as the Technical Coordinator of 4C Association at the new 4C Office Vietnam in Buon Ma Thuot City, Dak Lak province. “I am really pleased with the great interest and active participation of so many participants from national and international coffee companies as well as public institutions and partners at this workshop”, Mr. Do Ngoc Sy said. “The findings and valuable recommendations received during this workshop will provide an important input for the activities undertaken by the new 4C Office in Vietnam in collaboration with the coffee Task Force of Mard, our Members and several partner organizations.”

During the workshop, participants exchanged learnings, discussed and elaborated practical recommendations for collaboration towards the development of a sustainable coffee sector. Mard and Vicofa presented details on the ‘Programme proposal on coffee sector development towards sustainable production and trade in Vietnam until 2020.’ Mard highly appreciates 4C Association’s vision as it is in line with the sustainable development concept of the Vietnamese Government and Assembly” says Department for Crop Production, Mard: “We are looking forward to intensify the cooperation with the 4C Association”, especially regarding training and capacity building on aspects such as sustainable agricultural practices, food safety, quality improvement, traceability and organizational development of farmer groups.”

The workshop enhanced the understanding of the 4C Association and other sustainability initiatives amongst participants and provided opportunities for further cooperation and strengthened partnerships, in order to contribute to the sustainability programmes as planned for the Vietnamese coffee sector development. 4C’s Vietnamese Technical Coordinator Mr. Sy was invited to represent the 4C Association at the Vietnamese Coffee Task Force under MARD in order to intensify the collaboration between the partners-

(Source: 4C Association)