The Fifth General Assembly (GA) of the International Tropical Fruits Network (TFNet) was held in Guangzhou, China on 21 June 2012, a day after the 5th International Symposium on Tropical and Subtropical Fruits.
Eight country members, 2 associate members, 2 expert members and 10 observers attended the Assembly. Observers included representatives from the Afro-Asian Rural Development Organisation (AARDO), Common Fund for Commodities (CFC), Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) and the Fijian Ambassador to China. Senior Economist Kaison Chang who is also a Board member, represented the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations. The TFNet Secretariat provided support and documentation for the Assembly.
The Genaral Assembly was officiated by the Honourable Long Xi from the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture in Beijing. As the representative of the host country, Dr. Yi Ganjun was introduced as Chairperson of the GA. The Vice Chairpersons of the assembly were Malaysian representative HE Dato’ MohdHashim Abdullah and Fijian Ambassador to China HE EsalaTeleni.
TFNet CEO Yacob Ahmad presented the 2009-2012 progress report, opening up the discussion on issues ranging from increasing membership, financial sustainability, corporate communication, products and services, capacity building and the strategic direction for 2012-2015.
In the election of new TFNet Board of Trustees (BOT) for 2012-2015, Malaysia represented by HE Dato’ Mohd Hashim Abdullah retained the Chairperson position, while China represented by Dr. Yi Ganjun and Vietnam, represented by Dr. Trinh Khac Quang, were elected as Vice Chairpersons respectively.
With the adoption of constitutional amendments, all the 12 representatives of Country members are, by default, members of the Board.
The Assembly decided to delay the appointment of two experts till a later date. The current two experts Prof. Dr. Errol Hewett and Prof. Dr. Sisir Mitra, will continue to serve the board until the new experts are appointed.
The two internal auditors were also elected who will monitor finances and assess the operations of the Secretariat: Australian representative Bob Williams and Sudanese representative Dr.BadreldinElshiekh Mohamed Elhassan.
The representive from Malaysia and Chairperson of the Board for 2012 – 2015 HE Dato’ Hashim Abdullah, offered Malaysia as host for the next General Assembly in 2015.
During the first session of the TFNet Board of Trustees (2012-2015) meeting after the General Assembly, the representative from Vietnam proposed that the Board meeting for 2013 to be held in Ho Chi Minh City, South Vietnam during the main fruit season.
The TFNet Board of Trustees members for 2012 – 2015 are:
H. E. Dato’ Mohd Hashim Abdullah- Chairperson
Representative off the Government of Malaysia
Dr. Yi Ganjun –Vice Chairperson
Representative of the Government of P.R China
Dr. Trinh KhacQuang-Vice Chairperson
Representative of the Government Vietnam
Mr.Kaison Chang
Representative of Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO)
Mdm.Meliakere Nawaikula
Representative of the Government of Fiji
Dr.Hasanuddin Ibrahim (Represented by Mr. Ahmad Widodo Heru)
Representative of the Government of Indonesia
Dr.Clarito Barron (represented by Dr.Henry T. Carpiso)
Representative of the Government of Philippines
Dr.BadreldinElshiekh Mohamed Elhassan
Representative of the Government Sudan
Mr. Bob Williams
Representative of the Government of Australia
Mr. KV Singh(unable to attend)
Representative of the government of India
Mr. Anwar Faruque (unable to attend)
Representative of the Government of Bangladesh
Mr.MuawyaJaber Abdul Rahman (unable to attend)
Representative of the Government of Syria
Mdm Adenike Olusolape Olufolaji (unable to attend)
Representative of the Government of Nigeria
Dr. Michael Hermann
Crops for the Future, Malaysia
Mr. Cheah Kiu Lye
Sime Darby foods and Beverages Marketing Sdn Bhd, Malaysia
Prof. Emeritus Dr. Errol W. Hewett
New Zealand
Prof. Dr. Sisir Kumar Mitra
India
Mr.Yacob Ahmad -Secretary
Chief Executive Officer
International Tropical Fruits Network (TFNet)
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