The Review Committee Meeting of ICC held from 3-5 April 2023 at the meeting hall of the Hotel Grand Whiz in Bali, Indonesia. The meeting attended physically by the chair, ICC Technical working group, members and invited experts from India, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Sri Lanka and Thailand. The members from CDB India joined virtually.
The meeting started with the welcome address of Dr. Jelfina C. Alouw, Executive Director. In her address she mentioned the main objective of convening this meeting and pointed out the contribution of coconut sector to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) so that multilateral supports for coconut development is urgently needed, and she welcomed all for the meeting and requested to participate actively in the deliberations and share valuable suggestions and inputs to ICC in reviewing the Strategic Plan. Mr. Benjamin Madrigal, chair, ICC Technical Working Group in his address reminded everybody the main objectives of the ICC Technical Working Group which is to harmonize, support, and integrate efforts with the Secretariat for the benefit of all member countries; level up the value and significance of the ICC for it to become more responsive to the needs of the industry and the members, and lastly assist the secretariat in setting the global direction of the ICC and the coconut industry with equitable benefits for all stakeholders of the industry.
The two-day deliberations started with the presentation of Dr. Alouw on the current status of coconut sector development, challenges, opportunities and strategies that the ICC has taken and still need to be done in addressing the challenges and meeting the opportunities. Furthermore, the deliberation on the vision, mission and 5-year Strategic Plan (2020-2024) and technical and policy inputs for strategic Plan 2025-2029 of ICC was led by General. Madrigal, the chairman of TWG. There were in-depth discussions in which all the members actively participated. Other agendas discussed in the meeting were Review of Outstanding Annual Contribution from some member countries and develop measures to address them; COCOFIX Project Proposal (Carbon Sequestration and Carbon Credit) proposed by the private sector; Collaboration with Sustainable Coconut Partnership and Issue on Coconut Harvesting Using Monkeys. Based on two days deliberations, the committee provided recommendations to be implemented by ICC in associations with the member countries for the sustainable development of the sector.
The two days in house meeting concluded with the closing remarks of Dr. Jelfina C.Alouw, Executive Director. She expressed her gratefulness to Chair, ICC TWG and members for accepting ICC invitations for participating in this meeting and to share the valuable inputs and suggestions. ICC will include the suggestions and recommendations of the committee while drafting the 5 year strategic plan (2024-2029).
The other members attended the meeting are: Dr. N. Vijaya Lakshmi, IAS , Chief Executive Officer, CDB and ANLO India, Dr. B.Hanumanthe Gowda, Chief Coconut Development Officer, CDB and TWG member, India , Dr. C. Anandharamakrishnan, Director, NIIST, India, Mrs. Deepthi S.Nair, Director, CDB India , Mr. Reza Pahlevi Chairul, Director for Interregional and International Organization Negotiation & ANLO, Indonesia, Mr. Alan Aku, Managing Director, KIK, and member TWG, Papua New Guinea, Mr. Bernie Ferrer Cruz, Administrator, Philippines Coconut Authority and TWG member Philippines, Dr. Lalith Perera, Additional Director, CRI and TWG member Sri Lanka, Mrs. Supattra Lertwattanakiat, Senior Expert in Fruit Crop, HRI and TWG member, Thailand.