Cocotech Exhibition, International Conference & Coconut Festival
Saturday, 12 July 2014 01:15
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The 46th Asian Pacific Coconut Community (APCC) Cocotech 2014 Exhibition, International Conference and Coconut Festival were held under the patronage of Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa at BMICH on 7 July 2014.
The Ministry of Coconut Development and Janatha Estate Development organised the Cocotech 2014 Exhibition, International Conference and Coconut Festival. The event was held with the participation of 156 representatives of 27 member countries of Asia Pacific region.
The event held for the 46th time will feature coconut and coconut-based product manufacturers and exporters, kernel product manufacturers/exporters: (desiccated coconut, coconut oil, virgin coconut oil, coconut water, coconut, coconut milk, coconut milk powder, etc.), non-kernel product manufacturers/exporters: (fibre, substrate, brushes, value added products, etc.), charcoal and activated carbon manufacturers/exporters, ornamental producers, related machinery producers and other supporting industries.
The conference focused on areas of new technological developments on coconut production particularly planting and replanting systems, varietal improvement, use of local elite planting materials and hybrids, coconut based farming systems, integrated pests and diseases management, post-harvest processing and technology updates in the manufacture of emerging coconut products for the domestic/export markets, maximum utilisation of energy efficient systems as well as cost effective technologies on integrated coconut processing and marketing technologies.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa, in his message to congratulate on the Cocotech 2014 Exhibition and International Conference, stated that the success of the coconut sector is important for national development as it covers a large area involving many stakeholders: the growers, processors, marketers and export industry.
He also recalled the Government, recognising the importance of coconut for domestic consumption and export has given a prominent place to coconut in the ‘Mahinda Chinthana’ Vision for the Future, to reawaken and vitalise the coconut sector.
