Vietnam organized an international coconut conference for the first time

This is the first time an international conference on the coconut industry has been held in Vietnam. Attending the conference were more than 200 representatives of localities, businesses, and experts from the world's leading countries in the coconut industry, such as the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, and India.

According to Ms. Nguyen Thi Kim Thanh, President of the Vietnam Coconut Association (VCA), Vietnam is the country with the 5^th largest coconut-growing area in the world (nearly 200,000 hectares), concentrated mainly in the Mekong Delta. Vietnam is the 4^th largest exporter of coconut products in the Asia-Pacific region and holds the 4^th position in total value in the international market.

"For nearly two decades, Vietnam's coconut industry has not only provided rich raw materials for products such as coconut meat, coconut water, and coconut oil but also created jobs and improved the lives of millions of coconut farmers and workers.

However, we still face big challenges, which is that productivity is not really high, leading to limitations in exploiting added value and connecting with international markets.

Building a comprehensive, modern, and sustainable value chain is the top goal to make Vietnam's coconut industry constantly strong," Ms. Nguyen Thi Kim Thanh said and pledged that the Vietnam Coconut Association will always accompany businesses and farmers to overcome difficulties, promote technological innovation, build brands, and expand export markets. At the same time, pay special attention to applying science and technology and digital transformation to improve the industry's competitiveness.

In addition, the Vietnam Coconut Association will continue to expand cooperation with international organizations to ensure that the Vietnamese coconut industry meets global standards, which are economic development associated with environmental protection and social responsibility.

According to Ms. Dang Huynh Uc My, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Ben Tre Import-Export Joint Stock Company (Betrimex), CocoNext, themed "Empowering Vietnamese Coconut Value Chain," is the starting message for breakthrough changes, reshaping the landscape and opening a new era for the coconut industry. This is also a common commitment of all stakeholders in the coconut value chain.

"CocoNext will promote positioning Vietnam as a leading supplier and innovation center of the global coconut industry," Ms. Dang Huynh Uc My said and hoped to make Ben Tre a leading research and development hub for the coconut industry in the world.

At the conference, many contents were shared, such as sustainable development strategies as well as the integration of advanced technology and practical solutions to solve the current challenges of Vietnam's coconut industry in the context of the world aiming for NetZero.

The conference also emphasized the importance of shaping an overall strategy to turn coconut into one of Vietnam's key economic sectors.

This event not only affirms Vietnam's position in the international coconut industry but also creates a strong driving force to promote the growth of the entire industry.

Currently, coconut has been planned as one of the six key industrial crops in Vietnam, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has issued a coconut development project until 2030 with specific goals.