REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, MAMUJU -- Indonesia is determined to become the world's second largest cacao producer, after the Ivory Coast, according to Deputy Agriculture Minister Rusman Heriawan.

"Indonesia now occupies the third position on the list of the world largest cacao producers, after the Ivory Cost and Ghana," the deputy minister said here on Saturday.

He noted that Indonesia's cacao production had reached 712 thousand tons per year, with 1.7 million hectares of planted areas.

Further, Heriawan is convinced that Indonesia will become the largest cacao producer in the world, if it continues to develop its cacao plantations.

Therefore, the deputy minister said, all cacao producing provinces in Indonesia, such as West Sulawesi, should continue to boost production in a bid to increase the nation's total cacao production.

"West Sulawesi, which has 192,000 hectares of cacao plantations with an annual production reaching 101,000 tons, is Indonesia's cacao future," he said.

He added that the central government appreciated the idea of the regional government and people of West Sulawesi attempting to make cacao into the region's premier crop to improve the standard of living of the local people.

He said he hoped that West Sulawesi would support the government's program to increase the nation's cacao production so the country would emerge as the world's second largest cacao producer.

"The Ivory Cost and Ghana beat us in terms of production, so they became the first and second largest cacao producers in the world. We hope, with increasing production in West Sulawesi, that the country would become the first largest producer," he noted.

In the meantime, President of Eurochocolate, Eugenio Guarducci, has offered to assist in increasing Indonesia's cacao exports to Italy.

Guarducci made the offer at a meeting with Indonesian Ambassador to Italy August Parengkuan on the sidelines of an exhibition held by Eurochocolate in Perugia, Italy, Agriculture Attache at the Rome embassy, Dr. Hamim, told Antara news agency in London on Monday.

Guarducci also offered to help if the Indonesian government held an international cacao exhibition in Indonesia, Hamin said.

The Indonesian ambassador welcomed the offer to boost Indonesian exports of cacao to Italy, he said.

Ambassador Prengkuan added that he hoped related agencies in Jakarta would take advantage of the opportunity offered by the Italian chocolate producer.

Eurochocolate also plans to send a team to Indonesia to visit cacao plantations to learn of the country's potential as a major cacao producer.

At least 600 cacao manufacturers from various countries took part in the international cacao exhibition in Perugia, ending on Sunday.

At the exhibition, Indonesia displayed various cacao-based products, including cacao beans and cacao powder.

Also, Indonesian traditional dances, a Gamelan orchestra and Balaganjur from Bali were highlights of the exhibition.

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