The Ambassador of Honduras to the United Kingdom has agreed to Chair the International Council for Coffee. It comes during a challenging time for the ICO, not only because of the pandemic but at a time when some member countries have expressed dissatisfaction with the effectiveness of the body.
In 2018, the US departed the ICO, followed in 2020 by Guatemala, and now there are rumours of another country reconsidering its membership.
Add to that, the crisis in Brazil, the impact of climate change, and the out-of-control costs of shipping and its evident the industry needs purposeful, coordinated leadership. We wish Ambassador Romero-Martínez the best of luck and hope he can offer the guidance that is urgently needed.
The press release is below
London, 30 September 2021 – The 130th Session of the International Coffee Council confirmed by acclamation Ambassador Iván Romero-Martínez of Honduras as the Chair of the International Coffee Council for Coffee year 2021/22, which begins on 1 October 2021.
Ambassador Romero Martínez is the current Ambassador of Honduras to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and represents his country in the International Coffee Organization.
In his acceptance of the challenging position, he reiterated his commitment to work for the benefit of exporting and importing Members, as well producers and consumers. The Executive Director congratulated Ambassador Romero-Martínez on his election and stressed how his outstanding diplomatic experience and knowledge would be a great asset in guiding the Council towards the modernization of the International Coffee Agreement and mobilizing countries and resources to the benefit of the whole coffee sector.
Ambassador Romero-Martínez is a career diplomat since 1971, having served as Ambassador of Honduras to several countries, including Belgium, Colombia, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Finland, Haiti, Ireland, Jamaica, Luxembourg, Morocco, The Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. He also represented his country at the rank of Ambassador to the European Commission in Belgium, and to the United Nations in New York and Geneva.
Other assignments in his country’s diplomatic service include the post of Special Adviser to the President of Honduras with the rank of Secretary of State and Deputy Permanent Representative to the Organization of American States (OAS). Ambassador Romero-Martínez also held several positions at the embassies of Honduras in Canada and the United States.
Ambassador Romero-Martínez holds a degree in Law and Social Sciences from the National University of Honduras and a PhD in International Relations from the Catholic University of Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic
