Theme:Global
Development Affecting the Competitiveness of the Coconut IndustryVenue:To
be informed soonDate:Last
Week of August 2006
A.27/2006/009.
5 January 2006.
Dear Sir / Madam,
The First Circulation on
The 42nd Permanent Panel On Coconut Technology (COCOTECH) Meeting,
3rd Coconut Festival 2006 & Buyer and Sellers Meet
Last week of August 2006, Manila, Philippines
The Asian and Pacific Coconut Community (APCC), an intergovernmental
organization of fifteen coconut-producing countries in Asia and Pacific
accounting for 90% of the world’s coconut production and contribute 90-95
percent of total coconut export products in the world market, aiming at
promoting coconut industry development in the region of APCC member countries.
As you are aware that the coconut is the nature’s gift to the mankind
which provide health, shelter, wealth, aesthetic and supports of millions
and millions of smallholders of coconut. It also sustains millions who
are depending in this crop and crop-based industries directly or indirectly
for their livelihood.
APCC countries produce a variety of coconut based products numbering
more than 100, which are used as food, food ingredients, value added products
like virgin coconut oil, oleochemical, bio-fuel and by products like coir
and coir products, charcoal, activated charcoal, handicrafts, etc. The
tender nut promoted as health and nutritional drink as well as sports drink
is gaining popularly. It is available in raw/natural form as well as in
sachets and tetra packs. Desiccated coconut, coconut milk, milk powder,
coco flour, etc. have variety of uses in food preparations, toffies, chocolates,
etc. Many of the coconut products add taste to the food, and provide nutrients.
Coconut oil as herbal, massage, baby oil and health oil has larger use.
Coconut oil also plays a vital role in functional foods, pharmaceuticals,
nutriceuticals, and, cosmoceuticals beside providing alternate source of
energy as bio-fuel. APCC countries can supply any or all of these products
to anywhere in the world. In order to promote the coconut industry as whole
as a market promotion activity, we are planning to hold the third Coconut
Festival 2006 & Buyer and Sellers Meet at Manila, Philippines during
the fourth week of August 2006, which is back to back with Conventional
COCOTECH Meeting which focus on scientific and technological discussions
on “Global Development Affecting the Competitiveness of the Coconut Industry”.
This Coconut Festival 2006 & Buyer and Sellers Meet and 42nd COCOTECH
Meeting will enable the gathering of different stakeholders of the industry,
like processors and traders to meet together and share latest developments
in coconut technology and discuss issues related to the industry. In the
Coconut Festival, we facilitate a forum where potential buyers and sellers
to meet and discuss about marketing and export of products. Various coconut
products will be exhibited also for seeing and buying. The event will be
held for four days in the fourth week of August 2006. The Coconut Festival
2006 and COCOTECH Meeting together will be inaugurated on the first day,
and then continued by the COCOTECH Meeting. One who participates in the
Coconut Festival is also welcome to join in the COCOTECH Meeting by single
registration.
This year’s theme is on “Global Development Affecting the Competitiveness
of the Coconut Industry”. Many emerging issues of trade liberalization,
regional policies, biotechnology, bio terrorism, genetic modification,
storage and transport facilities, etc will be addressed. The theme related
papers will be presented by competent experts from APCC member countries
as well as international organizations, public and private sector, entrepreneurs
of reputation associated with the coconut industry.
The meeting is open to all public participants like producers, consumers,
traders, farmers, scientists, development staff, farming communities, policy
makers, planners, etc and we believe that the meeting will be beneficial
to you and your organization. The registration fee is US $100 (one hundred
only) as a special case to ensure larger participation.
If you are keen to take part in these events, please let us know early
as we can accommodate only a limited number of persons. You can also open
our website “www.apccsec.org” and can make registration on line. For the
registration charges you may use your credit card.
With best regards.
Yours sincerely,
DR. P. RETHINAM
Executive Director
For further information, please
contact:
