The three day long 57th ICC Session and Ministerial Meeting started virtually on 26th October at Jakarta and will conclude on 28th October. The Government of Papua New Guinea held the Chair of International Coconut Community (ICC) for the CY 2020-2021 and was host for the 57th ICC Session & Ministerial Meeting. For the second time continuously Session & Ministerial Meeting convened virtually amid Covid-19 pandemic.
The inauguration is an Official Opening Ceremony and was organized by the host Government of Papua New Guinea. Mr. Alan Aku, Managing Director, Kokonas Indastri Koporesen delivered the Greeting Remarks followed by The National Anthem of Papua New Guinea and Prayer of Thanksgiving by Reverend Walter Kaumi.
In his welcome remarks, Hon. Mr. John Simon, M.P, ICC Chair & Minister of Agriculture & Livestock, Government of Papua New Guinea hoped that this forum could be utilized to find common ground for research and development that are mutually beneficial to the ICC member countries. All member countries are challenged with serious pest and disease affecting the coconut, the major one are rhinoceros beetle, Ganoderma wilt attacking coconut in many member countries. These unprecedented times being affected by COVID-19 as well, which has devastated the lives and changed the way do business forcing all to adapt the new normal protocols. He hoped that this pandemic will teach all to be more resilience and to find smarter ways to live and do business.
Keynote and Opening Remarks, delivered by Hon. James Marape, M.P., Prime Minister Independent State of Papua New Guinea as Chief Guest, inaugurated the 57th Session. He mentioned that the Session’s discussions could ensure that the coconut industry remains vibrant, survives, and moves beyond its present states. The benefit that emanates from this session continues to bring growth and prosperity of the coconut industry. PNG were privileged since the Independence Day in 1975, to became a member of ICC, and has benefited very well from the membership. PNG fully supports in the coconut revolution or coconut comeback in the last 15 years, with an increasing demand for coconuts and high-value added products, as the global consumer market is concerned. Along with COVID-19 and an increased organic food and appetite demand for well balanced nutritious, coconut will emerge into the future as a premium sort of food for life. It is in this context he encouraged ICC member countries to ensure total partnership. He also encouraged all member countries to use technology to ensure that the coconut industry grows, to collaborate on exchange of useful knowledge and information, and the market as a shared platform, cooperate on all aspects of the coconut industry, coconut research and development to ensure not just technology transfer, but also the coconut industry is secured and sustained. He further added that trade barrier is lifted and there's a free flow supply of this coconut as healthier food, biopharmaceutical requirements, as well as the associate’s industries in the coconut sector. The Government of PNG is ready to support ICC and expressed readiness to assist in coconut as an industry. With 8 million people, approximately 5 million of them have direct access to land that could cultivate and grow coconut, PNG is a country that will become a powerhouse in the coconut business in coming days.
Introductory Remarks delivered by Dr. Jelfina C. Alouw, Executive Director, ICC. She mentioned that this pandemic reminds us how we can use this turning point into history, not only to recover from the pandemic, but how we can build forward better. Disruption of the supply chain due to restrictions during the pandemic impacted farmer livelihood, industries and export revenues, further emphasizing the importance of coconut as the tree of life for many people. The forecast of the increased market demand draw our attention to fulfil market opportunity through a collective act of science and political will, through national and global solidarity for technical, financial and institutional supports to address challenges in all value chains.
Dr. Jelfina expressed her sincere appreciation to the government of PNG for hosting the 57th Session and ministerial meetings, and for the excellent guidance provided by the chairman of ICC, Honourable John Simon. In her address, she congratulated Mrs. Erlene Manohar the new COGENT Coordinator and extended special thanks to Mr. Vincent Johnson, the outgoing COGENT Coordinator for his contribution. She acknowledged the collaborative support extended by the member countries, Chairman & Vice chairman of ICC, former EDs, former TWG Chairman, Chairman of the Scientific Advisory Committee for Health, and all partner organizations. Dr. Jelfina added that with the support of all it was possible to integrate resources, capabilities, knowledge, experts, and the collaborative efforts towards optimal conservation and utilization to achieve sustainable coconut development goals which helps to provide benefits to coconut farmers, consumers, of global communities. She wished a fruitful deliberation that will drive transformative actions for better implementation of the ICC's vision & mission.
Hon. Minister Frederick Kologeto, the Minister for Commerce, Industry, Labour and Immigration, Solomon Islands, delivered his Statements, followed by Country Statements presentation by Plenipotentiary Delegates from FSM, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Jamaica, Kenya, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, and the Philippines. The Country Statement included a brief update on the policies and programs for coconut development undertaken by the National Governments including the legislation to promote the development of the sector, the coconut replanting, new planting and rehabilitation programs implemented, processing and export in their countries; the policies and programs implemented in the country to enhance productivity and increase production and the farmer’s income; the constraints and challenges, research and development updates, the way forward for the coconut sector, also the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak in the country’s coconut sector.