Cashew Growers To Constitute Global Body

Bangalore: India, Vietnam and Brazil, the world's top three cashew producers, have joined hand to constitute a global alliance for promotion of cashew production, consumption, standardisation of cashew kernel grades, research and development, and validation of quality. These countries are at present in the process of working out the structure of the organisation, which is expected to take a formal shape by July this year. During the International Tree Nut Convention held in Montreal, Canada, in May last year, Antonio Jose Carvalho, president of Sindicaju, Brazilian cashew association, had informally agreed to work with Cashew Export Promotion Council of India (CEPCI), and authorised its chairman Walter D'Souza to initiate talks with Vietnam. Vietnam extended its support for the cause last week, when CEPCI-led trade delegation visited the country. A memorandum of understanding (MoU) to this effect was signed by D'Souza with Pham Van Bien, president, Vietnam Cashew Association (VINACAS), in Ho Chi Minh City on January 25, 2007. The bilateral MoU will be sent to Sindicaju for its formal endorsement and a tripartite MoU is expected to be signed by the heads of the three organisations in Florida, USA, in April this year.