Kenya’s Jude Chesire elected Vice Chairman of International Sugar Organization

KENYA – Jude Chesire, the Acting CEO of the Kenya Sugar Board (KSB), has been elected as the Vice Chairman of the International Sugar Organization (ISO), a historic first for both Kenya and Africa since the organization’s establishment in 1968. 

Chesire’s election occurred on November 29, 2024, during the ISO Council meeting at the 33rd International Sugar Organization conference.  

The event, held under the theme “Sustainable solutions for sugar and energy,” brought together key stakeholders in the global sugar industry to discuss pressing issues and innovative solutions. 

Chesire’s extensive experience and leadership in Kenya’s sugar sector played a pivotal role in his nomination.  

Over the past 12 years, he has held senior positions in statutory agencies, including serving as the Director and Head of the Sugar Directorate and Deputy Director of Legal Services at the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA).  

Chesire also contributed to drafting Kenya’s National Sugar Policy and served as a member of the Presidential Task Force on the Sugar Industry. 

Additionally, Chesire has represented Kenya in the negotiation of sugar safeguards at the COMESA Council since 2014, demonstrating his expertise in regulatory affairs and international collaboration. 

Consecutively, Edgar Herrera, Executive Director of LAICA in Costa Rica, was elected as the Chairman of the ISO Council.

Both leaders will serve two-year terms, guiding the organization’s efforts to foster global cooperation and stability in the sugar sector. 

The ISO, founded in 1968, is an intergovernmental entity representing 114 member countries, including major producers and traders such as Brazil, India, South Africa, and the European Union.  

It serves as the only global forum for intergovernmental collaboration within the sugar industry. 

The ISO plays a vital role in addressing challenges, promoting sustainability, and enhancing the global sugar market through analysis, transparent statistics, and events such as seminars and conferences. 

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