My dear International Pepper Community Family,

Assalamualaikumwarahmatullahiwabarakatuh and a very Happy New Year. Here’s wishing everyone a happy, safe and prosperous 2023!

It has been my privilege and honour to lead the IPC Secretariat for more than a year now. For me personally, it has always been a wonderful start to an exciting journey in the pepper industry. I like to think there are positive to be drawn from the issues and challenges we have found ourselves in the industry. The displays of kindness, empathy and perseverance that our entire IPC family has demonstrated has made us stronger, more resilient, caring an agile than ever before. There is no better time than now, for me, to extend my heartfelt appreciation to everybody who supports the IPC Secretariat across the world.

As we left 2022, the world undergoes variety of developments. The dreading global pandemic of COVID-19 which started in late 2019 has only started to ease up as we see more and more countries treating COVID-19 as an endemic and opening their border fully. Thus, ignite the sparks of tourism and traveling to a new height. Though 2022 had shown significant improvement, as the world recovered for the global pandemic and we witnessed the successful organization of G20 Summit as well as the World Cup 2022, the world pepper industry was faced by several issues. China’s low buying power which was due to the implementation of the zero-covid policy that enforced lockdown and restriction, has resulted in surplus stock in major producing countries. The continuous rise of interest rates to tame inflation, war in Ukraine pushed the price of essential commodities, the European energy crisis and global credit crunch which caused most depreciations of currencies as well as the threat of global recession.

As we embark on 2023, challenges remain for the IPC along the way. IPC ought to stay the course and stand united to weather the current tide of complicated developments and global situation ranging in the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, instability of pepper prices, disruption in logistics, stringent rules and regulations for pepper trade, climate change and many other. IPC ought to ensure its role as an effective player in the development of the global pepper industry and capable of playing bigger roles in responding as one to global challenges.

In 2023, IPC has formulated series of resolutions in the form of programmes and projects with the sole purpose for the betterment of the pepper industry stakeholders. We are planning to enlarge the Community by embracing and collaborating more with active players of the industry. We are also formulating programmes and projects which would be catered to all of the stakeholder of the industry both the supply and demand sides. We are always open for ideas, suggestions and feedbacks from the industry on how we can better improve our programmes and projects.

We will also reengage in various exhibitions, conferences and other trade shows which weren’t able to be conducted during the global pandemic. IPC has also planned to undertake few researches pertinent to the development of the pepper industry and IPC in general.

Furthermore, let’s continue to grow and shine in the coming years. Let’s face all challenges with courage and see even better results. As such, I would like to invite all IPC member countries and stakeholders of the pepper industry to come together to strengthen our network and address global challenge in solidarity. Let’s join hands to work together in making sure the sustainability of the pepper industry and the prosperity of all stakeholders.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank and commend Sri Lanka for the successful Chairmanship of IPC for 2022 and congratulate Malaysia as the Chairman of IPC for 2023!

Once again, on behalf of the IPC Secretariat, wishing you and your family a very Happy New Year! Let this year be the best yet, filled with efficiency and fruitfulness.
#togetherwearestronger

Sincerely and Salam Hormat,

Firna Azura Ekaputri Hj. Marzuki