Kochi, October 25th, 2025: The 53rd Annual Sessions and Meetings (ASM) of the International Pepper Community (IPC) and the International Spice Exhibition will be hosted by the Government of India and jointly organized by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the Spices Board India, and the International Pepper Community (IPC). The prestigious event will be held at Le Meridien, Kochi, from October 28 to 29, 2025.
This year’s theme, “Revitalizing Pepper Trade: Innovation, Equity, and Regional Resilience,” underscores the need for a renewed approach to global spice trade. As globalization enters a fragmented phase, the event will focus on reimagining trade models toward regional collaboration, innovation-driven practices, and equitable participation. The discussions will aim to build resilience in the pepper industry while ensuring inclusive growth among member nations.
The IPC Annual Sessions and Meetings are hosted every year by a member country on a rotational basis, bringing together delegates, policymakers, industry leaders, researchers, and traders from across the globe. Each member country is represented by an official delegate with plenipotentiary authority, underlining the significance of the event in shaping international trade and cooperation in the pepper and spice sectors.
The two-day event will feature the official launch of the 53rd IPC ASM ISE, the announcement of the IPC Best Awards 2024, and a series of technical sessions, exhibitions, and interactive forums. Delegates from major pepper-producing countries, spice exporters, processors, research institutions, and trade bodies will participate in the event, making it a vibrant platform for business networking and policy dialogue. The event will be attended by Ms. Marina N. Anggraini, Executive Director, IPC, and Smt. P. Hemalatha, IAS, Secretary, Spices Board, Government of India, along with senior officials, dignitaries, and industry stakeholders.
The International Pepper Community is an intergovernmental organization of pepper-producing countries. The Community currently includes India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam as permanent members, and Papua New Guinea and the Philippines as associate members. Established in 1972 under the auspices of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN-ESCAP), the IPC Secretariat is headquartered in Jakarta, Indonesia, and is headed by an Executive Director. India currently holds the Chairmanship of the International Pepper Community.
Membership to the Community is open to all pepper-producing countries, with the unanimous consent of existing members and by acceding to the agreement establishing the Pepper Community.