economy

Open COCOTECH 51, President Emphasizes Value-Added Green Coconut Economic Opportunities

President Joko Widodo, accompanied by Minister of Trade Zulkifli Hasan, officially opened the 51st International Coconut Community (ICC) Conference and Exhibition COCOTECH in Surabaya, East Java, on Monday, (22/7). The 51st COCOTECH International Conference and Exhibition, which carries the theme "Utilization of Coconut Potential as a Tree of Life and Green Energy," will be held from July 22 to 25, 2024.

In his speech, President Jokowi emphasized Indonesia's great potential for green economy, especially in the coconut industry.

"In the future, the green economy related to commodities such as chocolate, mangroves, vanilla, coffee, pepper, cloves, and others represents a great opportunity and potential for Indonesia. And especially coconut. We have 3.8 million hectares of land for coconuts with a production of 2.8 million tons per year, which is very large," said the President.

Furthermore, President Jokowi also highlighted, based on available data, Indonesia's coconut exports reaching USD1.55 billion. According to the President, the two largest coconut-producing provinces in Indonesia are North Sulawesi and Riau.

"This figure is also very large and can be increased even further if we seriously address the coconut issue," the President said.

In efforts to increase coconut production, President Jokowi emphasized the quality of seeds, maintenance, and harvesting methods as key factors. The President also stressed the importance of downstreaming to increase the added value of coconut products, support the industry, and create jobs.

"Research is very important in this regard, and then we utilize downstreaming technology to achieve it. I have seen a lot of coconut waste being turned into bioenergy. I think this is important for the future to continue to be developed," said the President.

Finally, President Jokowi invited the international coconut community to unite in advancing sustainable coconut industry. The President mentioned that this conference is very important for Indonesia, and Indonesia is also interested in introducing the great potential of national coconuts. I invite the entire international coconut community to collaborate in advancing the sustainable coconut industry that supports the global green economy," said the President.

Meanwhile, Minister of Trade Zulkifli Hasan revealed in his report that Indonesia is currently the main producer and exporter of coconut products and derivatives. The export potential of Indonesian coconuts is not only in the form of coconut oil derivatives such as coconut milk and grated coconut, but also in coconut shell briquettes and activated carbon with high market demand. This is because they have the potential to be a substitute for wood charcoal and are environmentally friendly. "Coconut derivative products are extraordinary. We need to stop exporting raw coconuts that do not add much value. We are now starting to export nata de coco, coconut shell briquettes, and coconut shell. These products are increasingly popular due to their quality," explained Minister of Trade Zulkifli Hasan.

Minister of Trade Zulkifli Hasan also emphasized the importance of the coconut sector as a sustainable solution in the 51st COCOTECH theme. "We encourage all participants to actively participate and collaborate to maximize the potential of coconuts. Let's use this platform to increase motivation, drive innovation, and promote the future of sustainable coconut industry," concluded Minister of Trade Zulkifli Hasan.

Tag: COCOTECH 51 ICC Joko Widodo Zulkifli Hasan