The Indonesian Minister of Trade, H.E. Dr. (H.C.) H. Zulkifli Hasan, S.E., M.M., visited ICC Secretariat on 12th April 2023. His Excellency had an audiency with associations, manufacturers, farmers, and stakeholders in the coconut industry and supply chain, at BAPPEBTI Building Auditorium, Jl. Kramat Raya 172, Jakarta. The Minister also visited International Peper Community Secretariat.
Along with the Minister were Mr. Djatmiko Bris Witjaksono, S.E., MSIE, Director General of International Trade Negotiation, Ministry of Trade Indonesia; Mr. Reza Pahlevi Chairul, S.Si., M.AS., Director for Interregional and International Organization Negotiation, Ministry of Trade Indonesia. Also participated in the audience, Prof. Dr. Ir. H. Nelson Pomalingo, M.Pd., Gorontalo Regent, Chairman, Coalition of Coconut-Producing Regencies (KOPEK).
Dr. Jelfina C. Alouw, Director, ICC delivered the welcome remarks, wherein she expressed appreciation to the Government of the Republic of Indonesia for its consistent and substantial support to realize the idea of making the coconut sector sustainable, resilient, and highly competitive.
She also addressed the coconut’s vital role in economic, social, and public health, the country’s economy, and its contribution to global environmental issues. She also wished for policy support to continue the improvement of infrastructure, transportation, efficiency of production and trade costs, both domestically and globally, maximize the industry in producing and marketing products of high economic value, strategic and sustainable efforts in improving the farmers’ welfare. Following with the video of coconut contribution to SDGs, ICC main programs, and activities.
In his remarks, H.E. Dr. (H.C.) H. Zulkifli Hasan, S.E., M.M. mentioned that Indonesia join the ICC as one of the trade policies and strategies to support better market access and to boost Indonesian coconut products export. The downstream innovation is also necessary to increase coconut products' value-addition, especially the utilization of digital-based technology.
In the Questions & Answers Session, representatives of manufacturers and coconut associations shared the challenges they face, including price fluctuation, regulations, the need for an integrated database and information, and also “link and match” with universities.
Mr. Djatmiko Bris Witjaksono, S.E., MSIE, expressed the government's commitment to supporting the coconut sector, by formulating regulations and stabilizing coconut prices, in collaboration with other ministries, for the sake of the farmers’ welfare.
The meeting was concluded with the presentation of ICC plaques to the Director General of International Trade Negotiation, Ministry of Trade Indonesia.