While the global demand for coconut-based products has grown in the past several years and there is no expected decline in the years to come, the organizers of the 1st World Coconut Congress believe that it is high time to actively shape the future of the industry.
“The Philippines being the world’s number 2 producer of coconut in the world should capitalize on the abundance of the coconut in our country”, explained by Dean Lao, Jr., Chairman of United Coconut Association of the Philippines (UCAP) during the press conference. With production striving to keep up and with new uses and technologies emerging, it is imperative that the Philippines should start focusing on helping our coconut farmers and producers. Thus, the Philippines is hosting the first ever World Coconut Congress, organized by the United Coconut Association of the Philippines in collaboration with the Philippine Coconut Authority,Department of Trade and Industry with the support of various chambers of commerce.
The Congress gathers together more than 500 delegates from across the globe and will feature experts who will discuss topics such as the latest trends and product innovations, integrated coconut processing, export and free trade agreements, and acquiring certifications.
Speakers include some of the world’s industry experts such as Mr. Uron Salum, executive director of Asian & Pacific Coconut Community; Dr. Julian McGill, head of LMC International Southeast Asia; Dr. Ivan Idrovo, CEO of Strategic Development Cooperation Asia; Dr. Fabian Dayrit, chemistry professor at the Ateneo de ManilaUniversity; Jesus Arranza, president of Coconut Oil Refiners Association; and Marco Reyes, president of the Virgin Coconut Oil Producers and Traders Association of the Philippines.
Also featured are medical experts like Dr. Bruce Fife, director of the Coconut Research Center in Colorado; Dr. Mary Newport of Spring Hill Hospital in Florida; Dr. Pratishtha Chatterjee of Macquarie University in Australia; and Dr. Giorgio Pietromaggiori of Clinique de la Source in Switzerland.Fife will talk about preventing and treating health problems with coconut while Petromaggiori will discuss the role of coconut-derived medium chain fatty acids in fat burning. Newport and Chatterjee will talk about the benefit of coconut oil in addressing Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and similar condition.
According to UCAP chairman Dean Lao Jr., the strong appetite for coconut-based products worldwide is driven largely by the health and wellness industry as well as personal care.
“Anything that is raw, natural and considered a superfood has an immediate following. Coconuts is recognized worldwide as a superfood,” Lao says.
“A company can take value-adding steps to create specialty ingredients, unlocking the potential of coconut oil in cosmetics, nutritional supplements and manufacturing,” Lao adds.
At the Congress, plenary sessions will facilitate sharing of insights in topics such as the coconut supply and value chain; processing technologies; product innovations and marketing trends; and quality, certifications, labeling, and safety standards as marketing tools.
The exhibit component of the Congress will give way to research firms and manufacturers to showcase their innovations, products, and services that are aimed at engaging and persuading decision makers from across various industries.
There are also opportunities for business matching, a B2B facility that will be provided by the Department of Trade and Industry.
About the WCC
The conference and exhibition will be held from August 14 to 16, 2018, at the SMX Convention Center Manila in Pasay City, Philippines. It will be the flagship event of the 32nd National Coconut Week Celebration, which is organized by the Philippine Coconut Authority.
Providing support are the Asian & Pacific Coconut Community, Australian-New Zealand Chamber of Commerce Philippines, Canadian Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, French Chamber of Commerce & Industry in the Philippines, Korean Chamber of Commerce Philippines, Organic Coconut Association of the Philippines, Philippine Chamber of Commerce & Industry of the Philippines, Philippine Exporters Confederation.
To learn more about the 1st World Coconut Congress, visit www.worldcoconutcongress.com. You may also send inquiries to UCAP at ucap@ucap.org.ph or its event manager, World Expos & Concepts Inc. at wcc@worldexco.com.
