SURABAYA, East Java, July 22 (Bernama-ANTARA) -- President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has urged leveraging on technology in coconut downstream processes to increase the country’s added value, reported ANTARA news agency.
"We can utilise technology for coconut downstreaming," he stated at the 51st Cocotech Conference in Surabaya, East Java, on Monday.
He emphasised that technology is currently being used to transform coconut commodities into bioenergy and bioavtur. However, fully implementing this technology for nationwide coconut downstream remains a work in progress.
To this end, the head of state called on players in the coconut commodity industry to optimise technological advancements to improve and develop downstream efforts.
He noted that coconut commodities have promising potential for the country, with 3.8 million hectares of coconut land and production reaching 2.8 million tonnes annually.
Indonesia is ranked second worldwide in terms of coconut commodities, with the provinces of North Sulawesi and Riau being the regions with the highest potential for producing coconuts.
"We were able to generate exports amounting to US$1.55 billion. This is a huge number with the possibility to grow if we are being serious," he emphasised.
According to Jokowi, the use of technology in the downstream of coconut commodities will help to create more product variations and be accepted by foreign countries.
To support this programme, the Trade Ministry and the International Coconut Community (ICC) held the 51st Cocotech Conference.
The president stated that this conference was important for Indonesia to introduce the huge potential of coconuts, expand networks, and pursue new opportunities to develop the domestic coconut industry.
"I invite the international coconut community to collaborate with us to develop a sustainable coconut industry that supports the world's green economy," Jokowi remarked.
According to the president, Indonesia can make the most of the green economy by developing the coconut commodities industry and other commodities such as vanilla, cocoa, coffee, and pepper.
--BERNAMA-ANTARA
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