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Ernst & Young Senior Partner and CCCI General Secretary Ranil De Saram
By Divya Thotawatte
With a vision of reviving Sri Lanka’s coconut industry into a major force, the Ceylon Chamber of Coconut Industries (CCCI) was inaugurated recently, aiming to increase the annual production to 4.5 billion nuts within the next five years.
As the first organisation of its kind in Sri Lanka, CCCI aims to harness the vast potential of the country’s coconut industry, of which the annual export revenues exceed $ 800 million. By fostering collaboration across all industry sectors, the CCCI aspires to elevate Sri Lankan coconut products’ quality and global competitiveness, targeting export revenue of $ 1.5 billion.
Speaking at the inauguration meeting held last week at the National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka, Ernst & Young Senior Partner and CCCI General Secretary Ranil De Saram said, “The industry generates $ 800 million, but when you take Sri Lanka’s $ 80 billion economy, our contribution is less than 1%. Our economy needs redirection and change. The only way we can do that is to have a green revolution which is agro-based.”
This revolution is further needed because the industry has been on a slow decline where Sri Lanka’s coconut tree population was dwindling. Innovation and research was essential along with productivity in reviving and expanding the industry, he explained.
Sunpower Systems Chairman and CCCI First President Jayantha Samarakoon also said that while Sri Lanka’s annual coconut production was currently at three billion, the organisation’s target was to increase the annual production to 4.5 billion within the next five years, significantly expanding the industry within Sri Lanka while conquering the global coconut market.
The chamber’s initiatives include developing a 10-year strategic plan, advocating for coherent national policies, and supporting research and development efforts to ensure the industry’s long-term success. With a strategic focus on sustainability, value addition and technology integration, CCCI is set to position Sri Lanka as a leader in the global coconut industry.
The formation of the CCCI has been facilitated by the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) within the scope of the European Union-funded BESPA-FOOD project and Ernst & Young.
The CCCI has garnered support from key industry associations, including eight founding members: the Coconut Growers Association of Sri Lanka, the Exporters Association of Coconut Based Substrates, the Sri Lanka Virgin Coconut Oil Manufacturers Association, the Coconut Product Manufacturers and Exporters Association, the Ceylon Desiccated Coconut Manufacturers Association, the Ceylon Coir Fiber Manufacturers Association, the Coconut Milk Manufacturers Association, and the All Ceylon Coconut Oil Manufacturers Association.
CCCI is also backed by key partners in the state sector, including the Ministry of Agriculture and Plantation Industries, the Coconut Development Authority (CDA), the Coconut Cultivation Board (CCB), and the Coconut Research Institute (CRI).
Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi
