Former Coffee Board Chairman and IAS officer, Mr G.V. Krishna Rau, is one of the four shortlisted candidates for the post of the Executive Director of the International Coffee Organisation (ICO).

The International Coffee Council, last month had set up a screening committee, comprising six exporting members and six importing members, to shortlist candidates to head the ICO.

Based on the nominations received from the ICO member countries, the International Coffee Council, which met last month, shortlisted four candidates, which included Mr Krishna Rau. The other candidates are: Mr Robério Oliveira Silva of Brazil, Mr Christian Ruffin Silvère Ngoua of Gabon, and Mr Rodolfo Trampe Taubert of Mexico.

The Executive Director post got vacant when Mr Dr Néstor Osorio resigned to become the Colombian Ambassador to the United Nations in New York.

As a next step, the four shortlisted candidates will be invited to the International Coffee Council scheduled to hold its 107th session in London from September 26 to 30. At the Council meet, shortlisted candidates are allowed to make their presentations on their candidacy.

Mr Rau is a 1982 batch IAS officer, who is currently serving as the Principal Secretary to the Governor of Karnataka, Bangalore. Before that served he as the Chairman, Coffee Board, Bangalore.

In his application for the post, Mr Rau has said “I bring 32 years of experience in the Government Sector, including 5 years in coffee sector, and the strength of working at different executive and policy formulation positions with regular interface with political executives on one side and with the general public on the other, and continuous liaison with Government at different levels as well as co-ordination with several departments. At the same time, experience of working with NGOs, CBOs and international organisations enhanced my abilities to work with varied stakeholder groups and helped develop global perspectives. The training programmes I attended greatly enhanced my capabilities in the respective areas from time to time.”

According to the ICO note, “Following the presentations by candidates at the International Coffee Council meet in September, the council shall consider and decide on the appointment of the Executive Director.”

As for the terms of appointment, the ICO says “The terms of appointment shall be comparable to those applying to corresponding officials of similar inter-governmental organisations. The initial contract will be for a period of five (5) years and with the possibility of renewal for one 5-year additional term. In no event shall the contract of the Executive Director extend beyond the duration of the International Coffee Agreement.”

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