Kid CEO keeps cool when presenting cocoa business to Swiss ambassador

 By Olivia Miwil - January 20, 2022 @ 3:43pm

Koko Loko chief executive officer Armand Idrizam (fourth left), 12, and his family members taking group picture with Swiss Ambassador Her Excellency Andrea Reichlin (third right). - Pic courtesy of Nina Othman.

KOTA KINABALU: Twelve-year-old Armand Idrizam is all business and unfazed when presenting his business plans and products to Swiss Ambassador to Malaysia Andrea Reichlin recently.

The young chief executive officer (CEO) of Koko Loko based in Lok Kawi here explained about the sustainable farmed single origin cocoa beans from Kampung Tambatuon farm in Kota Belud and his cocoa based snacks products among others.

His mother Nina Othman said the ambassador's visit came about following a virtual meeting last year where Reichlin had learned about the bean-to-bar supply chain involving farmers, entrepreneurs and artisans, as well as human capital development in Sabah.

Reichlin was in the state capital for the two-day Sabah International Business and Economic Summit and dropped by at Loko Koko on Wednesday before leaving for Kuala Lumpur.

"I had told Armand that the guests were very important people. He treated these VIPs like any other people he would meet on a daily basis and struck a casual conversation with them. He did the same to ministers during an event in Kuala Lumpur last year.

"He has no qualm talking to people because he has been doing so since he was 6 when he undertook a business selling healthy sausage in Kuala Lumpur for four years, before our family moved to Sabah," said the social entrepreneur cum trainer, adding that she and husband would allow their eldest child to make decisions for Koko Loko to earn pocket money.

The mother of three also said Reichlin had also made the visit more casual by conversing with Armand like a family member and insisted to be addressed by her first name.

"During the visit, the ambassador had asked interesting questions on relations between cocoa taste and the sea level (altitude of the cocoa farm).

"Apart from that, Andrea had also voiced out her support to the supply chain idea and shared some insights on the cocoa industry, farmers and business development with Armand," she said, adding that the ambassador was knowledgeable since she is from a top chocolate producing country and has been posted to seven countries before.

During the visit, the young CEO had also served the Swiss entourage with local kuih, chocolate cinnamon pot and hot milk as well as frozen banana cream with cocoa granola.