<p></p><p>Online registration is now open for The Future is Now! The 7th ACA Annual Conference will be held in Cotonou, Benin from 17-20, September 2012. Register before June 15 to receive discounted early bird rates! The ACA Conference has become the world's largest annual cashew event. This year, over 400 international cashew industry stakeholders are expected to join ACA in Benin. A four day program of a plenary session, World Cashew Forum, Business2Business meetings, and field trips will allow delegates to learn from experts about the latest trends and best practices in the world cashew industry, interact with other participants through demonstrations and thematic workshops, and network to form lasting business relationships.</p> <p>The World Cashew Expo12 will be held alongside the ACA Conference. At this exhibition of equipment manufacturers, input and service suppliers, and national cashew associations, visitors will have access to those necessary to grow cashew business and facilitate investment - all in one place. Take advantage of the unparalleled promotional opportunities by sponsoring the event or exhibiting at the World Cashew Expo12! Contact aca@africancashewalliance.com for more information. </p><p>ACA’s annual conference has become the biggest annual cashew event on the planet with more than 350 cashew stakeholders from 35 countries attending in 2011. In 2012, cashew farmers, processors, traders, exporters, services providers, retailers, equipment manufacturers, bankers, and governments will undoubtedly all gather again under the aegis of the ACA in Cotonou, Benin from 17-20 September 2012. </p><p>Africa has become the center of attention for the cashew world; business opportunities in African cashew have never been so huge. The continent’s production reached one million tons in 2011, and its processing of cashew nuts has increased more than threefold since the creation of ACA in 2006 to more than 100,000MT this year! </p><p>‘The ACA Annual Conference is something we put on our agenda every year. It now attracts members from other origins, so when I’m there I can meet with ten or fifteen major suppliers of cashew around the world saving me time and effort. As a buyer, you want to be able to come to one place, hold a lot of business meetings and also feel like you have had an opportunity to learn something. That is exactly what this conference offers,’ said a major cashew buyer at last year’s conference in Banjul. ‘I attend the conference to learn about new trends and technologies. At the World Cashew Expo I found new equipment and other solutions for the future of my company,” said a cashew processor from Benin. This year the conference will be a unique platform to do business, exchange best practices, and learn from experts from around the world. The World Cashew Expo12 will offer opportunities to meet with equipment manufacturers and service providers. Access to finance will be one of the key topics developed during the event along with market and investment opportunities.</p> <p>In the cashew world Benin is known for the quality of its raw product. Beninese planters have almost doubled their production volume in less than a decade bringing it to an estimated 70-80,000 MT. The country is the third largest exporter of raw cashew nuts in Africa with more than 100,000 MT exported in 2011. The cashew sector has taken an important role in the national economy injecting about 122 million dollars in the Beninese economy in 2011, which represents 13% of the of export revenue. Cashew has become one of the priority crops for the government. </p><p><b>For further details log on to WWW</b><b>. africancashewalliance.co</b> </p><p>Program </p><p>17 September: Registration, Inauguration of World Cashew Expo12, Welcome Cocktail </p><p>18 September: Plenary Session </p><p>19 September: World Cashew Forum and Gala Dinner </p><p> 20 September: Field trip + Leisure trip </p><p> 17 - 19 September: World Cashew Expo12<br></p><p></p>