Local Partners

Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD):  
The Vice-Minister of Agriculture, Bui Ba Bong, leads MARD’s efforts in agriculture development, including cocoa. It is MARD that has the role and authority to establish policy direction in cocoa.  Vice-Minister Bong called for the establishment of the Vietnam National Cocoa Development Coordinating Committee in March 2005.

The Vietnam National Cocoa Development Coordinating Committee (VNCDCC):
The VNCDCC consists of thirteen members representing all the relevant public institutions for fostering cocoa development in Vietnam. It was formed in March 2005, and in little over a year has overseen the approval of commercial cocoa clones for planting in Vietnam and the establishment of the Vietnam National Cocoa Bean Export Standards.

Nong Lam University (NLU):
NLU has been a leader in cocoa development in Vietnam. They maintain a cocoa team and have established centers of cocoa cultivating excellence at the University and in Dak Lak Province. NLU’s cocoa team receives technical assistance and support from the World Cocoa Foundation and Mars Inc.

Provincial Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development in Binh Phuoc and Ben Tre, Provincial Agriculture and Extension Centers in Ba Ria Vung Tau and the
Provincial Office of Science and Technology in Tien Giang: 
Each of these provincial level departments has taken the lead in developing cocoa in their respective provinces. Each provincial department has formed a Project Management Board to direct SUCCESS Alliance project activities in the province.

Vietnam Standards Center (VSC):  
VSC is the facilitating agency within the Ministry of Science and Technology for forming and maintaining quality standards. The VSC successfully implemented a contract funded through United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to develop cocoa bean quality standards, which was approved by the Ministry of Science and Technology in February 2006.

Provincial Department of Science and Technology (DST) in Ben Tre province:
After the Ministry of Science and Technology approves quality standards for cocoa, it is up to the DST office in each province to monitor and enforce these standards. With USAID funding, ACDI/VOCA has provided support to DST in Ben Tre province to establish a cocoa bean quality assurance facility to monitor the cocoa bean fermentories and cocoa buyers to ensure bean quality standards are being adhered to.

Forest Science Institute of Southern Vietnam (FSSIV):
FSSIV has been implementing the Sustainable Cocoa Agroforestry System (SCAS) demonstration site in Binh Phuoc since 2005. FSSIV is looking at ways to increase the perennial tree cover of Vietnam, and to maximize the economic benefits of non-timber forest products, such as cocoa.

Cargill:
Cargill is an American agribusiness and an international provider of food, agricultural and risk management products and services. In Vietnam, Cargill is buying cocoa and developing cocoa plantings through a grant from the Dutch Government. ACDI/VOCA works closely with Cargill/Vietnam in linking the project farmers to the buyers and market. Cargill is a World Cocoa Foundation member.

ED&F Mann:
ED&F Mann is a UK commodity trading company focused on coffee, cocoa, pepper and sugar trading. ED&F Mann has been active in promoting the cocoa development in Vietnam from the beginning by buying cocoa, setting up buying centers and financing seedling production costs.

The Armajaro Group:
The Armajaro Group is a global commodities and financial services business, with headquarters in London, England and with offices and subsidiary companies located in thirteen countries throughout the world. Armajaro is recognized globally as one of the world’s leading traders of cocoa and coffee beans, as well as related cocoa products. Armajaro is working with the SUCCESS Alliance to establish buying points in project areas in Ba Ria Vung Tau. Armajaro is a World Cocoa Foundation member.

Olam:
Olam is a leading global supply chain manager of agricultural products and food ingredients, including cocoa. In Vietnam, Olam is coordinating with the SUCCESS Alliance in setting up cocoa sourcing operations to buy from farmers in the project areas in Binh Phuoc. Olam is a World Cocoa Foundation member.