THE REPORT OF THE 20TH MEETING OF THE NATIONAL FOCAL POINT

FOR THE ASEAN COCOA CLUB (ACC) ON ASEAN COOPERATION AND

JOINT APPROACHES IN AGRICULTURE AND FOREST PRODUCTS
PROMOTION SCHEME

17–18 May 2017

De La Salle University, Manila, Philippines

INTRODUCTION

1. The 20th Meeting of the National Focal Point for the ASEAN Cocoa Club (ACC) on
ASEAN Cooperation and Joint Approaches in Agriculture and Forest Products
Promotion Scheme was held on 17-18 May 2017 at De La Salle University (DLSU),
Manila, Philippines.

2. The Meeting was attended by 41 members and observers from the government and
private sectors of four ASEAN Member States (AMS) namely Indonesia, Malaysia,
Philippines and Viet Nam. The list of delegates appears in Annex 1.

OPENING CEREMONY

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

3. The opening ceremony was held at the Conference Room at the 5th Floor Henry Sy Sr.
(HSS) Building, DLSU, Manila, Philippines. Messages from the organizers were given
by Br. Michael Broughton, FSC, Vice-Chancellor for La Sallian Mission DLSU and
Dr. Dionisio G. Alvindia, Director of the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Center
for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (DA-PHilMech). The full text of their
messages appears as Annex 2. The welcoming remark was delivered by Datin Norhaini
Udin, the Chairperson of the ACC. The full version of the messages from the
organizers and welcoming remark from the Chairperson of the ACC appear as Annex
3.

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 Opening Speech from the Chancellor of the DLSU, Manila, Philippines

4. Dr. Gerardo C. Janairo, the Chancellor of the DLSU, Manila, Philippines expressed
his gratitude and warmest welcome to all delegates from the AMS. He expressed his
appreciation to the ACC for choosing DLSU as the venue for the 20th ACC Meeting
and pleased to jointly host the Meeting with the Department of Agriculture and the
Department of Science and Technology. He also highlighted that the DLSU was
indeed honored to host the First Chocolate Appreciation Mini Exhibit, which was held
in conjunction with the ACC Meeting.

5. He highlighted on the importance of the establishment of the ACC which is in line

with the objectives to strengthen the bargaining position of ASEAN in the world
market on matters affecting agriculture and forest products; upgrade and expand the
export of these sectors’ produce through product diversification and lay the foundation
for broader and closer economic ties between AMS. These objectives are in line with
the university’s vision-mission to have an active role in improving and encouraging
cocoa farming as one of the country’s and region’s high value commercial crop.

6. He further informed that DLSU’s Center for Natural Sciences and Environmental
Research, through its Biological Control Research Unit has been engaged on cocoa
research in partnership with Cocoa Foundation of the Philippines Inc. (CocoaPhil) and
collaborated with their counterparts at the University of the Philippines Los Banos and
DA-PHilMech in the implementation of the ‘Cacao Pest Management Program:
Biological Base Approaches’. This program is funded by the Philippine Council for
Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the
Department of Science and Technology (PCAARRD-DOST). DLSU is looking
forward to collaborate in such projects and programs in the future.

7. He urged the AMS to work closely together and have a vibrant exchange of insights
and ideas to ensure the success of the Meeting. The full text of his Opening Speech
appears as Annex 4.

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 AGENDA ITEM 1: OPENING REMARKS

8. The Chairperson of the ACC, Datin Norhaini Udin, Director General of Malaysian
Cocoa Board (MCB) expressed her sincere gratitude to the Philippines for hosting the
20th ACC Meeting. She welcomed the delegates from Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines
and Viet Nam for attending the ACC Meeting and hoped for the positive outcome,
which is similar or even better than the previous Meetings.

9. She emphasized on the fact that currently the cocoa industry is facing the issue of the
downward trend of cocoa beans price due to the oversupply in the global market thus
affecting the income of the cocoa farmers. She further informed that the ACC could be
used as a platform to discuss any common issues that affect the development and
growth of cocoa industry in the ASEAN region. The AMS is urged to take the
opportunity to review and improve the ACC Strategic Plan of Action (SPA) that was
formulated in the 19th ACC Meeting in Yogyakarta, Indonesia based on the suggested
template SPA for ASEAN Cooperation in Agriculture and Forest Products Promotion
Scheme, 2015-2019. The new strategic thrust focusing on the four (4) key areas namely
(i) Joint Product Promotion in International Markets (ii) Joint ASEAN Position at
International Fora (iii) Enhancement of Intra-ASEAN Trade and (iv) Enhancement of
Competitiveness of the Products.

AGENDA ITEM 2: ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN AND VICE–CHAIRMAN

10. Datin Norhaini Udin, the Director General of the MCB was unanimously elected as the
Chairperson of the 20th ACC Meeting and Mr. Edward F. David, President of
CocoaPhil as the Vice–Chairperson.

AGENDA ITEM 3: ADOPTION OF AGENDA.

11. The Meeting adopted the Agenda of the 20th ACC Meeting, which appears as Annex 5.

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 AGENDA ITEM 4: BUSINESS ARRANGEMENTS

12. The Meeting was held in plenary.

AGENDA ITEM 5: COUNTRY PRESENTATION ON THE LATEST

DEVELOPMENT OF THE COCOA INDUSTRY IN PHILIPPINES.

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

i. Cocoa Area and Production.

ii. Trade Performance.
iii. Government Support to the Philippines Cacao Industry.
iv. Policy and Development Direction.

His slide presentation appears as Annex 6.

AGENDA 6: MATTERS ARISING FROM THE PREPSOM–38TH AMAF, 3–4

OCTOBER 2016; PREPSOM–16TH AMAF PLUS THREE, 5 OCTOBER 2016; 38TH
AMAF, 6 OCTOBER 2016 AND 16TH AMAF PLUS THREE, 7 OCTOBER 2016 IN
SINGAPORE

14. The ACC Secretariat presented the report of these Meetings provided by the ASEAN
Secretariat as follows:

i. As reported by the ASEAN Secretariat, the PREPSOM-38th AMAF held on 3-4

October 2016 and 38th AMAF held on 6 October 2016 agreed to refer the
proposed ASEAN Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) for Cocoa Production to
the ASEAN Sectoral Working Group on Crops (ASWGC) to make appropriate
recommendations for consideration by the next SOM-AMAF and AMAF
scheduled in September in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

ii. However there was no ACC related matters arisen from the PREPSOM-16th
AMAF PLUS THREE held on 5 October 2016 and 16th AMAF PLUS THREE
held on 7 October 2016 and no follow-up action need to be carried out by the
ACC.

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 AGENDA ITEM 7: MATTERS ARISING FROM THE 23rd MEETING OF THE
JOINT COMMITTEE ON ASEAN COOPERATION IN AGRICULTURE AND
FOREST PRODUCTS PROMOTION SCHEME (ASEAN JC AFPPS), 20–21
SEPTEMBER 2016, BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, BRUNEI DARUSSALAM

15. The ACC Secretariat presented the report of the 23rd Meeting of the Joint Committee
on ASEAN Cooperation in Agriculture and Forest Products Promotion Scheme
(ASEAN JC AFPPS) held on 20-21 September 2016 in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei
Darussalam as provided by the ASEAN Secretariat. The Meeting urged all sectoral
bodies and subsidiary bodies including ACC to develop the new SPA, 2016-2020
using the suggested new template as discussed in the Meeting. The new SPA will be
presented and endorsed in the 24th Joint Committee Meeting tentatively scheduled in
June 2017 in Cambodia.

AGENDA ITEM 8: ENHANCE INTRA– AND EXTRA–ASEAN TRADE AND

LONG–TERM COMPETITIVENESS OF ASEAN’S FOOD, AGRICULTURE AND
FORESTRY PRODUCTS/COMMODITIES

8.1 Tariff and Non–Tariff Barriers on Cocoa Beans and Cocoa Products.

8.1.1 ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA)

16. The Meeting noted the progress report on the implementation of ATIGA scheme
among the AMS presented by Indonesia. As of 2017, all AMS have implemented
zero percent import tariffs on cocoa beans and cocoa products with the exception for
the following:
i. Cambodia: 5 percent for unsweetened cocoa powder
ii. Cambodia, Myanmar and Viet Nam: 5 percent for chocolate and other food
preparations containing cocoa

17. There was a difference in the implementation period for Cambodia, Lao PDR,
Myanmar and Viet Nam (CLMV). They have the flexibility for a longer period of
tariff reduction until 2018. The latest matrix ATIGA reduction schedule for 2017 on
cocoa and cocoa products for each of the ASM appears in Annex 7.

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

18. Indonesia reported that the tariff imposition on cocoa beans and cocoa products is
zero percent for ASEAN-China FTA, ASEAN-Korea FTA and ASEAN-Australia
FTA. The import tariff for ASEAN-India FTA has reduced to zero percent for cocoa
products, except for cocoa butter imposed at 30 percent. The import tariff for
ASEAN-New Zealand FTA has reduced to zero percent for cocoa and cocoa products
except for chocolate and other food preparations containing cocoa imposed at 5
percent. The tariff schedule for ASEAN FTA and other countries appears as Annex 8.

8.1.3 Most Favored Nation (MFN) Tariffs

19. There is no update report on the MFN tariff rates from the AMS.

8.1.4 Non–Tariff Barriers (NTBs)

20. Indonesia informed the Meeting that according to the Agriculture Decree No. 5 (55),
cocoa beans from Indonesia has been removed from the list of quarantine restriction.

8.2 Technical Working Group on Good Agriculture Practices (TWGGAP)

21. Dr. Divina M. Amalin the Chairperson of the ACC TWGGAP presented the report of
the Sixth Meeting of the ACC TWGGAP.

22. Dr. Divina M. Amalin of the CocoaPhil and DLSU, Manila was designated as the
Chairperson of the Sixth Meeting of ACC TWGGAP and Mr. Haya Ramba of the
MCB was appointed unanimously as the Vice-Chairperson by all delegates of the
ACC TWGGAP.

23. She informed the Meeting that the Sixth ACC TWGGAP Meeting was held on 16
May 2017 at the DLSU, Manila. The Meeting was attended by 12 delegates. There
were three (3) representatives from Indonesia, one (1) from Malaysia and eight (8)
from the Philippines.

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 24. She further informed the Meeting that the joint opening ceremony was held at the
conference room at the 5th Floor HSS Building, DLSU, Manila, Philippines. The
opening remark was delivered by Mr. Edward F. David, President of the CocoaPhil.
Messages from the organizers were given by Dr. Reynaldo V. Ebora, OIC-Executive
Director, PCAARRD-DOST, Dr. Raymond Girard Tan, Vice-Chancellor for Research
and Innovation of the DLSU and the message for the Department of Agriculture was
given by Ms. Gregoria Santos, Chief Officer of DA-AMAS. The Technical Working
Group on Food Safety (TWGFS) was presented by Dr. Sabariah Samsudin from the
MCB.

25. Dr. Divina M. Amalin mentioned that the final draft of the ASEAN GAP for cocoa
was approved by the 19th ACC Meeting held at the Hotel Santika Premiere
Yogyakarta, Indonesia for endorsement to SOM-AMAF. However, SOM-AMAF
endorsed and tasked the review of the draft to the Expert Working Group on GAP
(EWG-GAP) and the Task Force on ASEAN Standards for Horticultural Produce and
Other Food Crops (TF-MASHP).

26. She further informed the Meeting that the submitted draft on the ASEAN GAP for
cocoa was discussed in the 13th TF-MASHP Meeting held at Melaka, Malaysia on 6-7
April, 2017. She had provided the Member State representatives a copy of the
following:
i. Comment of ASEAN Sectoral Working Group on Crops (ASWGC)-Singapore on
ASEAN GAP for Cocoa Production;
ii. Philippines position on the ASEAN GAP for Cocoa Production; and
iii. TF-MASHP Comments on the draft with general and specific comments following
the format of ASEAN GAP standards.

27. Other AMS also shared information on cocoa GAP as follows:

i. Dr. Dionisio Alvindia, Director of the DA-PHilMech presented the Developments
on Microbial Control Agents for the Fungal Diseases of Cocoa;
ii. Dr. Divina M. Amalin presented the Biologically-Based Technologies for the
Management of Cocoa Pests in the Philippines funded by PCAARRD-DOST; and

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 iii. Mr. Haya Ramba presented the country report on Cocoa Productivity and GAP for
Crop Commodities in Malaysia.

28. Dr. Divina M. Amalin also highlighted in the Meeting that the draft of the ASEAN
GAP will not be able to discuss and refine in the 20th ACC Meeting based on the
comments of the ASWGC and TF-MASHP due to the absence of representatives from
other AMS, namely Thailand, Indonesia and Viet Nam.

29. She further informed the Meeting that Mr. Haya Ramba had suggested a face to face
meeting to be held in Bali, Indonesia from 18-20 October 2017 which aimed to
discuss and finalize the draft on ASEAN GAP for Cocoa Production. The final draft
is expected to be submitted for endorsement in the next ACC Meeting. Full report of
the ACC TWGGAP Meeting appears in Annex 9.

30. The Meeting took note on the work progress on programs and activities carried out by
the ACC TWGGAP, particularly on the following:

i. The ASEAN GAP for Cocoa Production will be refined and submitted for
endorsement in the 21st ACC Meeting with full commitment from AMS; and
ii. The ACC TWGGAP will prepare and submit the proposal on Development of
Cocoa Pod Borer (CPB) Artificial Diet as a regional project for funding by end of
the year.

8.3 Technical Working Group on Food Safety (TWGFS)

31. Dr. Sabariah Samsudin, the Chairperson of the ACC TWGFS presented the report of
the Ninth Meeting of the Technical Working Group on Food Safety (ACC TWGFS)
held on 16 May 2017 in DLSU, Manila, Philippines.

32. The Meeting was chaired by Dr. Sabariah Samsudin, Director of the Cocoa
Downstream Technology Division, MCB and co-chaired by Mr. Dominador S. Calvez
Jr., Vice-President and Corporate Secretary, CocoaPhil.

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 33. The Meeting was attended by 11 members and observers from Malaysia, Philippines
and the Secretariat of the ACC and ACC TWGFS.

34. The highlights of the report are as follows:

i. Philippines informed the Meeting on the Cacao Traceability for Sustainability

project with the objective to improve the livelihood of cacao farmers and good
agriculture practice from post-harvest to storage and handling in helping the
farmers to improve the quality of cacao beans.

ii. Malaysia reported on the monitoring quality of Malaysian cocoa beans and cocoa
powder.

iii. Malaysia reported on the cadmium level in Malaysian cocoa beans and cocoa
powder. The range of cadmium was from non-detectable to 0.47 ppm and from
non-detectable to 0.43 ppm in Malaysian cocoa beans and cocoa powder
respectively, which are in compliance with Malaysia Food Act 1983 and
Regulation 1985.

iv. The Chairperson informed the Meeting that in order to maintain the database, it
shall be at least four countries to contribute into the database as mutually agreed
by AMS during the 8th ACC TWGFS Meeting. The Meeting noted that there was
no feedback from the AMS and therefore, agreed to remove the food safety
database from the ACC TWGFS website and dropped this agenda in the next
meeting.

v. With regards to AMS Collaboration on Expertise, Knowledge and Resources,

Malaysia presented services provided by the MCB Analytical Services Laboratory
(ASL).

vi. Philippines informed the Meeting that they need to establish the sensory
evaluation panels for cocoa and cocoa products. With regards to collaboration
with MCB on the ASL, they need to discuss this matter at their national level.

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 vii. Malaysia informed the Meeting on the amendment of Regulation 2 and
Regulation 19 under Malaysia Food Act 1983 and Regulation 1985 pertaining to
food additives.

viii. The Meeting noted changes of the non-technical member from Malaysia. Madam
Harnie Hj. Harun is replacing Datin Norhaini Udin; both from the MCB.

ix. The Secretariat of the ACC informed the Meeting on the new format of the
Strategic Plan of Action (SPA) for the Joint Committee on ASEAN Cooperation
in Agriculture and Forest Products Promotion Scheme (2016-2020).

x. Philippines informed the Meeting on the changes of technical member from

Philippines, Ms. Karen Kristine Roscom from the Department of Agriculture,
Philippines and will provide the nominee to the secretariat.

The full report of the 8th ACC TWGFS Meeting appears as Annex 10.

AGENDA ITEM 9: PROMOTE COOPERATION, JOINT APPROACHES AND

TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER AMONG ASEAN MEMBER COUNTRIES AND
INTERNATIONAL, REGIONAL, ORGANIZATION AND PRIVATE SECTOR

9.1 Trials on Selected Cocoa Progenies in Selected ASEAN Region

9.1.1 Progress Report on Hybrids Trial in Indonesia.

35. The Meeting was informed that the Joint Progeny Trial Programme in Indonesia
started in December 2005. The objectives of the trial are:

i. Clonal selection by testing some promising cocoa hybrids in Indonesia and

Malaysia using similar progenies.
ii. To select the superior genotype for clonal material resistance to main pests and
diseases such as Cocoa Pod Borer (CPB) and Vascular Streak Dieback (VSD).

36. Indonesia reported that the yield potential based on the pod number per tree during the
year of 2009–2015 indicated a significant different among tested hybrids. Generally,
the number of pod per tree was low due to VSD infestation. Hybrid of C1038 x BR

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 25, C 1038 x QH 22, KKM 22 x NA 33 and PBC 159 x NA 33 are having higher
number of pod per tree.

37. The Meeting was also informed that the hybrid combination of C 1038 x BR 25, PBC
123 x QH 22, TSH 858 x KW 162 showed resistance to VSD infestation. The full
report appears as Annex 11.

9.1.2 Progress Report on ASEAN Cocoa Club Progeny Trial

38. Malaysia reported that the trial was established in April 2006 under the ASEAN
Cocoa Club Joint Project with an objective to produce hybrids population which
possesses good yield and flavor as well as acceptable bean characteristics. The two
institutions involved in the project are the MCB and Indonesian Coffee and Cocoa
Research Institute (ICCRI).

39. In Malaysia, the progenies were planted in Randomized Complete Block Design
(RCBD) with 4 replications of 20 trees per plot by the spacing of 3m x 3m at the
Cocoa Research and Development Center (CRDC) Madai, Sabah.

40. Throughout 9 years of trial (2008 to 2016), top six progenies that produced higher pod
yield per tree are KW162 X KW163, KW162 X KEE2, UIT1 X NA33 (C), KW162 X
KW165, ICS60 X KW162 and TSH858 X KW162. KW162 X KW163 produced the
highest average pod yield per tree (7.66) followed by the KW162 X KEE2 (7.17),
ICS60 x KW 162 (6.64), KW162 X KW165 (6.03), UITI x NA33 (5.93) and TSH858
X KW162 (4.65).

41. Comparison among progenies for pod yield per tree in year 2016 showed no
significant difference at confidence level of 95%, however, progeny ICS60 x KW 162
is the highest pod yield per tree (17.42) and above the control of UITI X NA33 (8.52).

42. Comparison among progenies for Dry Bean Yield (DBY) in year 2016 also showed
no significant difference at confidence level of 95%, however, all progenies
performed better than the control with DBY between 231.05 to 445.11 kg/ha.

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 43. The pod and bean characteristics analysis on 11 progenies showed that all of the
progenies indicated pod value more than 25 pods to produce 1 kg of dry cocoa beans.

44. The VSD assessment was conducted in April 2014, April 2015 and October 2015. The
statistical analysis on VSD scoring showed there are no significant differences at 5%
significant level among the progenies in terms of level of resistance towards VSD in
five assessments with no interaction observed between progenies and assessment. For
first, second, third, fourth and fifth assessments on 11 progenies the range was 2.62 to
3.09, 2.13 to 2.64, 2.25 to 2.75, 2.37 to 2.84 and 1.76 to 2.34 respectively, which were
categorized as moderate resistant. An overall assessment conducted from 2014 to
2016, indicated that three progenies with the lowest VSD scores were TSH858 X
KW162 (2.29) followed by TSH858 X KW163 (2.32) and KW162 X KEE2 (2.44).

45. An overall result showed that the progeny KW162 x KW163, KW162 X KEE2 and
ICS60 X KW162 were the best progenies to produce higher yield in pod and dry bean.
TSH858 X KEE2 populations indicated acceptable pod and bean quality traits. With
the additional of TSH858 X KW163 population as moderately resistant progeny
towards VSD, the individual trees could be selected among these progenies based on
data recorded. The full report appears in Annex 12.

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

46. Malaysia informed the Meeting that the three areas of research collaboration are as
follows:

i. Cocoa Pod Borer (CPB)

ii. Vascular Streak Dieback (VSD)
iii. Black Pod Rot (BPR)
47. Malaysia further informed that no progress on the pests and diseases research among
the AMS.

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 9.3. Training and Exchange of Technical Expertise and Research Materials.

a. Training and Exchange of Expertise

48. The training and exchange of technical expertise and research materials proposed
were:

i. Training on the needs of the respective member countries and who have the
expertise and facilities.

ii. Exchange of expertise is proposed through visit of scientist within the AMS.

iii. Malaysia may wish to offer courses on cocoa bean grading and basic chocolate
making.

iv. Exchange of materials is on a reciprocal basis.

49. Malaysia reported on the Bilateral Discussion on Knowledge and Experience

Partnership between MCB and ICCRI as follows:

i. The bilateral discussion with the aim to share the knowledge, expertise and
experience on cocoa research was held on 26 April 2017 at the ICCRI, Jember,
East Java in conjunction with the ‘Mapping Workshop on Cocoa Productivity in
Indonesia’.

ii. MCB and ICCRI agreed to report and extend the following understandings to the
ACC:

• MCB and ICCRI agreed to have representatives in the editorial committee of

the 'Malaysian Cocoa Journal' for Malaysia and ‘Pelita Perkebunan Coffee
and Cocoa Research Journal’ for Indonesia;

• MCB and ICCRI agreed to contribute articles in the international scientific

journals;

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 • MCB and ICCRI agreed to nominate representatives as the journal reviewers for
scientific papers; and

• MCB and ICCRI agreed to have frequent discussion on the development of cocoa
commodity.

The full report appears in Annex 13.

b. Exchange of Cocoa Hybrid Seeds

50. Malaysia informed the Meeting that there is no report on the exchange of cocoa hybrid
seeds among the AMS.

9.4 Enhancement of Private Sector Involvement

9.4.1 Cocoa Association of Asia (CAA)

51. In the absence of the representative from the CAA, the Meeting took note on the latest
development of the programs and activities carried out by the CAA as submitted to the
Secretariat. The report appears in Annex 14.

9.4.2 Cocoa Manufacturers’ Group (CMG), Malaysia

52. In the absence of the representative from the CMG, the Meeting took note on the latest
development of the programs and activities carried out by the CMG as submitted to
the Secretariat. The slide presentation appears in Annex 15.

9.4.3 Indonesia Cocoa Association (ASKINDO) and Indonesia Cocoa Industry

Association (AIKI)

53. In the absence of the representative from the ASKINDO and AIKI, the Meeting took
note on the latest development of the programs and activities carried out by both
associations as submitted to the Secretariat. The report appears in Annex 16.

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 9.4.4 Cocoa Foundation of the Philippines (CocoaPhil)

54. The Meeting took note on the report provided by the CocoaPhil as submitted to the
Secretariat as attached in the Meeting document. The report appears in Annex 17.

AGENDA ITEM 10: OTHER MATTERS

10.1 ASEAN Cocoa Club National Focal Point

55. The ACC Secretariat updated the Meeting on the current National Focal Points 2017
submitted by the AMS which is in Annex 18.

56. The Meeting was advised to submit any changes on the National Focal Points to the
Secretariat.

10.2 Strategic Plan of Action on ASEAN Cooperation in Cocoa Sector 2016–2020

57. The Meeting has successfully reviewed the draft document of the new Strategic Plan
of Action (SPA) for ACC for the period of 2016-2020 in line with the suggested
template SPA for ASEAN Cooperation in Agriculture and Forest Products Promotion
Scheme, covering the following Strategic Thrusts:

Strategic Thrust 1: Joint Product Promotion in International Markets

Strategic Thrust 2: Joint ASEAN Position at International Fora
Strategic Thrust 3: Enhancement of Intra-ASEAN Trade
Strategic Thrust 4: Enhancement of Competitiveness of the Products

The details of the new SPA appears in Annex 19.

AGENDA 11: DATE AND VENUE OF THE NEXT MEETING

58. The Meeting unanimously agreed for the Viet Nam to host the 21st ACC Meeting on
ASEAN Cooperation and Joint Approaches in Agriculture and Forest Products
Promotion Scheme to be held tentatively in May 2018 as proposed by Malaysia. Viet

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 Nam will communicate with the ACC Secretariat on their agreement to host the next
Meeting.

AGENDA 12: ADOPTION OF THE REPORT

59. The Meeting unanimously adopted the Report of the 20th Meeting of the ACC on
ASEAN Cooperation and Joint Approaches in Agriculture and Forest Products
Promotion Scheme held on 17–18 May 2017 at DLSU, Manila, Philippines.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

60. In her closing remarks, the Chairperson expressed her gratitude and thanked to all
delegates for their active participation in the Meeting. It had been a fruitful two (2)
days meeting and she was glad that progress has been made in the programs and
activities planned last year. She also thanked the Local Organizing Committee and
the ACC Secretariat for their support and hard work in ensuring the successful of the
Meeting.

61. The delegation of Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines and Viet Nam expressed their
sincere appreciation to the Government of the Philippines in particular the DLSU,
Department of Agriculture and Department of Science and Technology for the warm
hospitality accorded to them and the excellent arrangements made for the Meeting as
well as the ACC Secretariat and the Local Organizing Committee of the Philippines
for their hard work and team cooperation rendered in ensuring the successful of the
Meeting.

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

Manila, Philippines
18 May 2017

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