Manado, Indonesia – April 30, 2026 — The Director General of the International Coconut Community (ICC) held a high level coordination meeting with the Head of the North Sulawesi Plantation Office, Mr. Darwin Muksin, S.Sos., M.M., alongside Mr. Edwin Monding, Chief of Land and Water Management, and their respective teams, to advance preparations for the upcoming World Coconut Day celebrations.
In a forward looking and highly constructive dialogue, the Provincial Government expressed strong commitment to the initiative. Mr. Darwin Muksin highlighted that “the plantation sector in North Sulawesi has recorded a remarkable growth of 41.5%,” underscoring its strategic importance as a key economic driver with significant potential to further elevate the province's development. He emphasized that maximizing this momentum, particularly within the coconut industry could deliver substantial and inclusive impact.
Demonstrating full institutional support, the Plantation Office proposed the integration of a business matching platform within the World Coconut Day agenda. This initiative aims to bring together investors, exporters, and importers from coconut producing and consuming countries, fostering concrete partnerships and trade opportunities. The proposal builds on the success of previous celebrations, notably in Gorontalo, which successfully attracted international interest, including engagement from Sri Lankan industry players in local coconut sector investments.
The event is tentatively planned to be hosted at Novotel Manado Golf Resort & Convention Center, a strategic venue offering accessibility to the airport, city center, and public hubs. The program is envisioned as a dynamic and inclusive platform, featuring international exhibitions, technology showcases, and competitions such as coconut-based innovation contests and coir product development. Parallel conference sessions with thematic discussions, alongside live demonstrations of coconut product processing, are also expected to enrich the event.
Following this productive engagement, the ICC Director General was received by the Regional Secretary of North Sulawesi Province, Dr. Denny Mangala, M.Si., who conveyed the Provincial Government's full endorsement, including approval from the Governor. The Regional Secretary confirmed the proposed dates of 23–27 September 2026, aligning the celebration with the Province's anniversary, thereby amplifying its visibility and significance. During the meeting, the ICC Director General also introduced a strategic pre-event initiative: an international workshop on coconut tissue culture, to be organized in collaboration with Indonesia's State Secretariat and Non-Aligned Movement Centre for South-South Technical Cooperation. This program is expected to attract global participation and further strengthen technical cooperation in coconut innovation.
Both parties emphasized the importance of business to business engagement and the active involvement of UMKM (micro, small, and medium enterprises) to ensure that the benefits of the event are widely distributed, particularly to local communities and farmers. The welfare of coconut farmers was highlighted as a central theme to be showcased throughout the celebration.
In addition, the ICC encouraged the promotion of forward looking initiatives such as Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) derived from coconut oil, noting its relevance amid rising global fuel costs and its inclusion in sustainability pathways recognized by International Civil Aviation Organization. This initiative presents a compelling opportunity for coconut-producing countries to position themselves within the emerging green energy landscape.
The ICC Director General expressed deep appreciation for the proactive and enthusiastic support demonstrated by the Government of North Sulawesi. The upcoming World Coconut Day is positioned not only as a celebration, but as a powerful platform to elevate the coconut sector, strengthen international collaboration, and reinforce the province's role as a global hub for coconut innovation and development.