As one of ICC member countries, and with the purpose of strengthening the relationship and exploring the assistance the Sri Lankan coconut industry could get from the ICC, H.E. Yasoja Gunasekera, Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Indonesia and ASEAN has visited the ICC Secretariat, on 9 June 2022. One of the agendas for the meeting was also to discuss the potential partnership and investment between the major coconut industry of Sri Lanka and Indonesia.
Join with Her Excellency Ambassador, was Heshani Kaushalya, Third Secretary Embassy of Sri Lanka (Commercial). The ICC Secretariat team is led by Dr. Jelfina C. Alouw, Executive Director and joined by Mr. Alit Pirmansah Market & Statistics Officer, Mr. Klaudio D. Hosang, Administrative & Finance Officer, and Mr. Otniel Sintoro Publication Officer, of ICC.
In her welcome address, Dr. Jelfina expressed her appreciation towards the initiative of the embassy of Sri Lanka in Jakarta to visit the ICC for a discussion about the coconut sector and she also expressed her appreciation to the Government of Sri Lanka for organizing the International Training Course for Coconut Development Officers in 2021, the ICC’s regular program for member countries in collaboration with CRI Sri Lanka (CRISL). She also thanked the Government of Sri Lanka for supporting the Tissue Culture Symposium and Workshop in 2022 as part of ICC-COGENT program funded by ACIAR and DFAT, by appointing a TC expert as one of the resource speakers at the events.
Dr. Jelfina also shared ICC’s programs that could be of benefit to promoting the coconut industry in Sri Lanka, one of which is the 50th COCOTECH in November 2022, where the Sri Lankan coconut producers can participate and promote their products and keep up with the latest technology in the coconut industry.
H.E. Ambassador Yasoja Gunasekera showed her interest in trade fairs like COCOTECH where the Sri Lankan coconut industries could promote their products. She also shared her gratitude that amid the pandemic the coconut sector in Sri Lanka is still increasing, especially VCO and coconut milk, and, during the economic restructuring, several Sri Lanka’s companies want to expand their market and production, therefore they showed interest in investing and seek for B2B partnerships in Indonesia.
Dr. Jelfina C. Alouw mentioned that ICC could facilitate both parties, to see what opportunities are available in Indonesia or other member countries. She also invited coconut industries in Sri Lanka to visit the leading Indonesian coconut manufacturer to explore best practices in coconut processing and develop partnerships. Sri Lanka as a member country also eligible to utilize all of ICC’s statistics and market information available on the ICC’s website, publications, and database.
There were in-depth and productive discussions on the potential collaboration and strategic implementation between both countries. The meeting concluded with thanks to the Ambassador and her team.