Bismillahirrahmanirrahim

My dearest International Pepper Community Friends and Family,

Assalammualaikum and Greetings from the IPC Secretariat!

As we have left behind another significant year of 2023 and welcome a new one with brand new hopes and goals, I am happy to extend my best wishes for the New Year. The arrival of a new year is always a time for reflection and anticipation with hope and excitement. 2023 was a year of reconnection and renewed collaboration.

I strongly believe that the coming year holds greater opportunities in terms of closer cooperation and deeper integration within the global pepper industry with a mounting role for our organization in light of changing international parameters. Thus, we express our deep gratitude to our Member Countries, Associate Members and stakeholders for their constant support and assistance to the activities of the International Pepper Community.

Taking this opportunity, together with all my colleagues at the IPC Secretariat, I sincerely wish for a happy and prosperous New Year for everyone across the globe. Having overcome the test of time over more than five decades of its establishment, IPC has become a dynamic organization and a force for good to be reckoned with in ensuring the sustainability of the global pepper industry.

After a lengthy period of virtual interactions, we joyfully resumed in-person meetings, a mode of engagement we all cherish. These include key IPC committee meetings, annual session and meetings and International Spice Exhibition, 51^st IPC ASM ISE hosted by Malaysia. At the same time, we welcome our IPC Chairman for 2024, Sri Lanka and we will continue to embrace digitalization, with IPC projects offered in the online and hybrid modalities, reflecting our commitment to adaptability and inclusiveness.

Throughout my official meetings, visits and interactions with the pepper stakeholders, and high-level officials, I have been deeply inspired by numerous stories of progress. Those narratives are a compelling testament to the strength and vitality of the development of the global pepper industry. As we have entered 2024, I hope to build upon those achievements with a steadfast commitment to making our journey towards enhanced pepper supply and demand, prices, productivity, consumption, which are sustainable and accessible.

We have a lot of works ahead, but we also have an important opportunity here to choose a path for inclusive, equitable growth and forge a new tomorrow for the sustainability of global the pepper industry, wellbeing of our pepper smallholders and for our future generation. To seize this opportunity, we must continue to work together in solidarity or moving as one to bring the global pepper industry to greater heights, prosperous future for all. We at the IPC Secretariat look forward to working with all IPC Member Countries, Associate Members, other pepper producing countries and relevant internationals organizations and associations to do just that.

With the insightful words of Henry Ford, “Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success, I extend my best wishes as we continue our global pepper industry journey, bringing greater prosperity to all in 2024! #togetherwearestronger

We truly appreciate your support to IPC and look forward to seeing you at IPC future events and programmes. Stay tuned, stay in touch, stay safe and take care!

Happy New Year!

Yours sincerely,

Ms. Firna Azura Ekaputri binti Haji Marzuki

Executive Director of IPC