IRSG urged to reconvene World Rubber Summit 2024

Singapore – The International Rubber Study Group (IRSG) has been urged by the Common Fund for Commodities (CFC) to reconvene the World Rubber Summit, according to a release posted 8 Oct on the IRSG website.

The event, which was cancelled for security reasons, had apparently been scheduled to take place 10-11 Aug in Nigeria, with the event website referencing capital Obuja and Benin City as relevant locations.

“After the cancellation of this year’s World Rubber Summit, it is vital to reconvene the event so that the challenges facing smallholder rubber farmers are heard,” said the CFC statement, issued in late August.

“Regrettably, the summit was postponed at the very last minute due to security concerns,” according to Amsterdam-based CFC managing director, Amb. Mohammed Belal.

This postponement impacts millions of smallholder farmers who are engaged in the production of rubber in some of the most challenging parts of the world,” Belal added.

The summit, he said, is a place to jointly discuss strategies and policies to increase incomes for farmers and an opportunity to highlight the critical role their critical play in the rubber sector and in sustainability initiatives.

The CFC leader went on thank the government of Nigeria for “making extensive preparations to host the World Rubber Summit 2024 and the president of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu, for his consideration to chair the event.”

“As soon as the security situation improves, we urge all parties to reconvene this pivotal event, concluded Belal. “We must continue addressing the challenges facing smallholder rubber farmers and embracing opportunities in the rubber supply chain.''

According to the CFC, it has invested more than $11.6 million in rubber projects across Africa, Asia and Latin America, as part of its commitment to the sector and the smallholder rubber farmers.