Vietnam to Join World Pepper Community in 2005
Vietnam, the world's leading black pepper producer and exporter, will likely become a full member of the Jakarta-based International Pepper Community (IPC) this year.
The IPC now includes Brail, India, Indonesia, Malaysia and Sri Lanka. Vietnam, China, Thailand, Madagascar and Cambodia are not full members.
Vietnam has already informed the UN office of legal affairs its decision. Spices Board marketing director S. Kannan said that the board had received a copy of the Vietnam government's instrument of accession sent to the UN.
Vietnam's entry into the community was now only a formality as all the six member countries of the organiation had unanimously agreed to give Vietnam full membership.
The contribution by the member countries is based on the annual budget with 50 per cent being shared equally by the members. Of the total estimated contribution of US$2,91,500 for 2005, Vietnam would have to chip in US$63,504.26, India US$50,885.55, Brail US$45,978.65, Indonesia US$63,283.91, Malaysia US$38,663.37 and Sri Lanka US$29,184.26.
As full PIC member, Vietnam will be able to boost export activities and secure better prices on the global market enabling Vietnam to play a more dominant role in stabiliing pepper prices in the world market, which the country dominates.
Vietnam is estimated to produce 90,000 tonnes during 2005. In 2004 it cultivated around 51,300 hectares of pepper trees, up by 8,000 hectares against 2003, yielding 100,000 tonnes of pepper products.
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