The 2nd International Coconut Conference underway at the SM-X convention center seeks to evolve strategies on how to break Philippine coconuts into the global market.
The purpose is highlighted in the theme: “Expanding Possibilities… Ensuring Productivity, Sustaining Industries.”
“It is to open doors of opportunities to the farmers to explore other products that could be produced from coconut and to achieve the coconut productivity and poverty alleviation in coconut farming,” Manuel Quisol, coordinator of ACDI-VOCA.
. The conference is expected to wrap on November 9.
The international conference is led by the Davao Region Coconut Industry Cluster Inc., a group of coconut producers in Davao in close coordination with partners ACDI-VOCA, an international development organization that foster broad-based economic growth in communities and formed jointly by the Department of Trade and Industry. It is largest organized gathering of coconut stakeholders.
New and innovative coconut products were showcased during the conference, with organic products made of coco coir creating interests among foreign buyers. Products, like coconut cooking oil, coco sugar, coco jam, virgin coconut oil, coco cream, coco milk, coco water and other products made of coconut, were on display.
Data obtained from PSA-Davao and Philippine Coconut Authority showed 68 out of 81 provinces are coconut areas. Coconut exports total 1.489Million metric tons of copra and with foreign exchange earnings of $877 Million.
Ma.BelendaAmbi, DTI Regional Director XI, said coconut oil is a purity sector of the Department of Trade in Industry. The Philippine export Development plan 2017-2022 classify coconut industry reach 1 Billion US dollars export revenue level compared to the past few years. This year is the important year to the Industry to the export is already done up to 1.6 Billion US dollars for this 3rd quarter of the week.
“The department continues to support coconut industry by way of providing economic environment for both local and export development s “said Ambi.
This year’s Cocolink was also supported by various government agencies in Region 11, such as the PCA, the DTI and the Department of Tourism. It also got assistance from the Foreign Trade Service Corps and the Department of Agriculture.
More than thousand guests participated in the event, mostly coconut processors, exporters, traders, consolidators and farmer cooperatives from all over the country.
