Forum 2009: Maximum banana world event

With an organized list of confirmed speakers and exhibitors, the Association of Ecuadorian Banana Exporters, AEBE, completed the last details so that between April 20th and 22nd of this year, the Sixth International Forum of Bananas and Fresh Fruits would take place in Guayaquil. This will bring together the banana industry at an international level to address the current global production and marketing of bananas and other fruits.

This forum has the backing of past events. It sets the scene where all principal elements that comprise the production and marketing of bananas and fresh fruit. They will meet to address issues involved in managing the technical, logistical and human aspects, where its lectures will provide an overview and economic projection for these products which are vital to the economy of producing and exporting countries.

One of the topics to be discussed will be "The international crisis and its impact on the commerce of fruits,” which will be presented by Dr. John Moverley, who is enamored with rural areas and is passionate advocate for environmental issues, with a strong commitment to living sustainability and working the ground. He was a member of the national steering group for Food and Agriculture in the year 2007/08. He is currently a member of the Royal Agricultural Society and the Institute of Agricultural Engineering.

The theme of the logistics of shipments will be handled by Mr. Adolfo Leiva, who has extensive experience in this field as well as quality system designs. His professional experience comes from working with Chiquita Brands, Banana Noboa, Caribana, Geest and since January 2008, through his consulting firm, which provides advice on quality and the environment. The analysis of the world banana market will be headed by Mr. Renato Acuña, who is currently the president of operations for Latin America for Dole Fresh and who has a vast amount of experience in the banana field.

For this forum, AEBE has included an extensive program on the shipping industry to be developed in four conferences and a forum. AEBE has done this because every day, this element of the marketing chain has an important significance, especially when large shipping companies are making decisions that will enable them to survive the competition and maintain their present margins.

Among those who will address this issue is Mr. Kriss Kristensen, who has dedicated his life to the shipping industry. He has vast experience in the topic. He has worked for APMoeller in Denmark and Maersk Line, where he held positions in Strategic Management. He is currently the Director of Reefer Sales Management.

Also present will be Mr. Richard Bright, editor of the daily Reefer Trends, one of the most important publications as per issues in world trade as shipping. Another speaker will be Mr. Antonio Aloé with experience in the work of shipments of fruit in different lines and current editor of the weekly SOPISCO NEWS.

The other issue which AEBE has an interest in is the one of corporate responsibility, where the association has been working for some time, through health plans and their associated foundations, who seek to improve the quality of life for banana workers and their families.

One of the participants in this Forum will be Francisco Hernandez Gerardo Rojas, a Costa Rican priest, who from 1999 to 2003 was Executive Secretary of the Department of the Social Pastoral of the Latin American Episcopal Council, CELAM, and since 2003, Coordinator for Latin American and the Caribbean Cáritas an international agency of the Holy Section, Vatican City, which is focused on social integration of communities to economic welfare. In this same forum, Mr. Manuel Rodriguez will participate; he has vast experience in the field of production and human resources, he currently occupies the post of Senior Vice-president of Corporate and International Relations of Chiquita Brands International.

The Ab. Eduardo Ledesma Garcia, Executive Director of AEBE, would like to express that "in the midst of an international financial crisis, it is pleasing to see how exporting firms, suppliers of goods and services as well as national and international speakers have confirmed their attendance to the Forum to expand their contacts. Likewise I would like to say for those who are registering as attendees, especially national producers, which reflect their interest in learning more, and that productivity growth is not of miracles but of efforts of this type, which AEBE has contributed over the past six years. "

Contact:
Paulina Ubillus
AEBE
pubillus@aebe.com.ec

Publication date: 4/2/2009