How does one give a general overview of 275 million people, from 1000 ethnic groups, speaking 800 languages, spread over 17,000 islands? Let's start by stating that Indonesia is the world’s largest archipelagic state, located in Southeast Asia and Oceania between the Indian and Pacific oceans. It’s the third largest democracy, has the largest Muslim population, and is one of 17 ‘megadiverse’ countries with the second highest number of endemic species. For centuries, the Indonesian archipelago has been a key trade region linking Asia, the Middle East, and the Indian subcontinent. Local rulers absorbed Hindu, Buddhist, and Islamic influences, along with European influences from the spice trade era. Since gaining independence from Dutch rule, Indonesia has faced challenges from natural disasters, corruption, and rapid economic growth. With 6,000 inhabited islands straddling both sides of the equator, Indonesia enjoys a relatively even year-round climate, aside from distinct wet and dry seasons. Each large island boasts tropical rainforests and some have high mountains. The region is tectonically active, with many volcanoes and frequent earthquakes. Surprisingly, Indonesia is the third largest cocoa producer in the world. Currently, the country’s cocoa plantations cover about 1.5 million hectares, with Sulawesi accounting for 75% of production. Significant government investment aims to reach a target of one million tons per year. Already it is the country’s fourth largest agricultural export, following rubber, coconut, and palm oil.