The vibrant province of Ben Tre, renowned as Vietnam’s coconut capital, successfully hosted the CocoNext International Conference on December 12-13, 2024. The first international coconut industry conference in Vietnam was Organized by the Vietnam Coconut Association and the Ben Tre Import-Export Joint Stock Corporation (Betrimex), the event brought together 200 participants from countries such as the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, and India, consisted of policymakers, scientists, investors, and coconut farmers to explore sustainable solutions and innovative strategies for advancing the Vietnamese coconut value chain.
The conference, themed "Empowering Vietnamese Coconut Value Chain", commenced with opening speeches by key leaders. Mrs. Danag Huynh Uc My, Chairlady of Betrimex. She emphasized the critical role of modern technology and international knowledge-sharing in achieving ambitious goals for Vietnam’s coconut industry. Drawing on expertise from Malaysia and India, she highlighted the event’s focus on practical solutions, manufacturing trends, and opportunities to optimize global competitiveness. Mrs. Uc My envisioned positioning Vietnam as a leading hub for coconut innovation while establishing the conference as an annual platform for stakeholders to collaborate and advance the sector.
In her remarks, Mrs. Nguyen Thai Kim Thanh, President of the Vietnam Coconut Association, underscored Vietnam’s potential as the world’s fifth-largest coconut-producing country, with nearly 200,000 hectares of cultivation. However, she noted challenges such as low productivity and limited value addition, stressing the need for a modern, sustainable, and resilient value chain. Her speech called for science and technology adoption, digital transformation, and international cooperation as key strategies to drive growth.
The conference featured multiple sessions where international experts shared their insights. Mr. Aluthwala Hewa Nuwan Chinthaka, Deputy Director General, International Coconut Community (ICC), delivered a comprehensive presentation titled “Towards A Sustainable and Resilient Global Coconut Sector”. Highlighting the ICC’s role in coordinating and promoting the coconut industry across 21 member countries responsible for over 90% of global production, Mr. Nuwan provided a global market outlook.
According to Mr. Nuwan, the Philippines remains the largest coconut producer, followed by Indonesia, India, and Sri Lanka. While global coconut exports reached $14.2 billion in 2022, challenges such as climate change, production stagnation, and market volatility persist. Nuwan outlined strategies to ensure sustainability, including bioenergy initiatives, youth empowerment, technological innovations, and market diversification. Notably, he pointed out that Vietnam’s coconut sector, currently contributing $204.6 million annually, has the potential to grow to $795 million. Key recommendations for the way forward included promoting global partnerships and knowledge-sharing networks to empower farmers through capacity building, technology transfer, and financing opportunities, promoting global partnerships and knowledge-sharing networks to empower farmers through capacity building, technology transfer, and financing opportunities, increasing investment in research and development to enhance cultivation efficiency, pest management, value addition, promoting premium-quality coconut products aligned with international standards to secure better market access.
The second session, titled "Innovation Technology for Value Creation", showcased cutting-edge solutions to enhance coconut product processing and industry value chains. Presentations included Daniel Wong, Tetra Pak, on processing coconut products, Dr. Jeyan A. Moses on food processing innovations, and Mrs. Alissa Carol M. Ibarra on science and technology strategies to advance the Philippine coconut sector.
The final session, "The Future Business", highlighted opportunities for innovation and growth. Mrs. Ly Thi Tu Duyen presented a case study on Betrimex’s success in business growth and value creation. Dr. N. M. Rika Trismayanti discussed the health benefits of coconut and opportunities for developing new products, while Asep Jembar Mulyana explored how coconut shells can be leveraged for sustainable energy solutions.
On the second day, participants had the opportunity to visit Betrimex’s Phong Nam Factory and nearby coconut material areas. The field trip offered insights into state-of-the-art processing technologies and sustainable practices that drive Betrimex’s role as a leader in Vietnam’s coconut sector.
The CocoNext International Conference concluded with a shared commitment to empowering the Vietnamese coconut industry and strengthening its global presence. The event underscored the importance of collaboration and innovation to tackle industry challenges and harness opportunities for growth. The organizers expressed their vision of making CocoNext an annual, reputable platform for stakeholders to exchange ideas, foster partnerships, and drive the sustainable development of the coconut industry worldwide.