Brief introduction of the International Coffee Organization an intergovernmental organization

The International Coffee Organization is an intergovernmental organization founded in London in 1963. It is composed of coffee importers and exporters. The organization is responsible for implementing the International Coffee Convention and is committed to improving the situation of the world coffee industry through international cooperation.

The establishment of the International Coffee Organization is based on the irreplaceable economic importance of coffee. Coffee is one of the most traded commodities in the world. 50 countries around the world produce coffee with an annual output of 1 million bags. The development of the coffee industry has provided employment opportunities for 100 million people in the world. Many coffee-producing countries are heavily dependent on the coffee industry, which accounts for 80% of their export earnings. The coffee production of the exporting member countries of the International Coffee Organization accounts for more than 97% of the world's total output. In the world coffee consumption market, where annual retail sales exceed 50 billion US dollars, the coffee consumption of the importing member countries of the International Coffee Organization accounts for 65 per cent. In the International Coffee Organization, both developing and developed countries participate in the discussion, and member States act in accordance with consistent guidelines to ensure that important and sensitive measures that have a far-reaching impact on the coffee industry are widely recognized and supported.

In the past, the International Coffee Organization implemented a quota system to keep coffee products that exceed consumer demand out of the market and keep prices relatively stable. Coffee organizations now achieve price balance by stimulating demand for coffee in emerging markets, reducing pest losses and improving marketing and quality, enhancing the long-term competitiveness of coffee growers and helping to eradicate poverty.

Specifically, the International Coffee Organization has made a special contribution to the world coffee industry through:

Organize regular high-level meetings to facilitate government representatives to exchange views, coordinate policies and cooperate on the coffee issue

Launch a coffee development project aimed at improving product quality and marketing tools and eliminating pests and diseases (to date, the total investment of the project has reached US $31 million, funded by co-raised commodity funds < Commen Fund For Commodities >)

-Creative coffee promotion activities in the two major emerging markets of China and Russia

-Establishment of a global coffee research network to enable member States to enjoy the results of research projects around the world

-provide market reports, economic models, in-depth economic research and coffee archives from more than 20 countries

-ensuring the transparency of the coffee market through the publication of statistics, processing 130000 pieces of data per year

-establish a strong private economic advisory committee to deal with matters such as food safety and work closely with the private sector through it

-promoting the sustainable development of the coffee industry and establishing environmental standards through research and expert discussions

-work closely with organizations such as UNEP, CABI Bioscience, FAO and ITC/WTO/UNCTAD

-through the development of the Internet project icoffee with Dow Jones and the establishment of a coffee service network to release the latest information about coffee.

The International Coffee Organization is an intergovernmental group that works closely with the United Nations, its specialized representative offices and other international organizations, and is headquartered in London. The organization has reached a headquarters agreement with the Commonwealth Government, which provides that representatives of member States enjoy foreign affairs privileges and diplomatic immunities to ensure their full independence in the exercise of functions related to the organization. The headquarters agreement provides for the status of members of the organization as international public servants and gives the executive officers the privileges and immunities granted to their diplomatic services by the Commonwealth Government.

The International Coffee Organization provides a forum for representatives of import and export member countries to meet and work together to ensure the smooth implementation of the agreement. The functions of the organization are carried out through the following three bodies: the International Coffee Council, the Executive Committee and the Executive Officer.

-Council-

The Council has the supreme authority of the International Coffee Organization and is composed of all its member States. The specialized functions of the Council include the renewal or termination of the International Coffee Convention, the adoption of the annual budget, the accession of new member States and the resolution of differences among member States.

-Executive Committee-

The Committee consists of eight importing and eight exporting member States elected each year. Members can be elected for a second term. Under the International Coffee Convention, the Committee is accountable to the Council, works under the general leadership of the Council, and is granted all powers except those exclusive to the Council. The powers of the committee include the rights necessary for the day-to-day operation of the coffee organization as stipulated in the agreement. As a general rule, all materials submitted to the Council are first examined by the Committee to ensure the normalization of the work of the organization and to simplify the burden on the Council.

-Executive Officer-

The Executive Officer shall be recommended by the Executive Committee and appointed by the Board and shall be responsible for the performance of all duties relating to him in the Agreement. The staff he appoints are responsible only to him.

-regular meetings-

Meetings between groups in the organization are held regularly, usually about 15 days a year. The Council normally meets twice a year for 3-5 days. Working groups and working committees are appointed to inspect specific matters and meet as required throughout the year.

-headquarters-

The International Coffee Organization, permanently headquartered in London, is a four-story building in the city centre with three conference rooms with simultaneous interpretation in the four official languages of the organization, with the largest conference room accommodating 84 delegates.

Contact person of the International Coffee Organization:

Executive Officer of the International Coffee Organization

Address: 22 Berners Street

London W1P 4DD, England

Tel: 0044-20-75808591

Fax: 0044-20-75806129

Email: maillto:info@ico.org