JAKARTA, Dec. 5 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia, one of the world's largest coconut exporters, is planning to develop a sustainable coconut industry to increase the income of local farmers and protect the environment, Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan said at the 59th International Coconut Community (ICC) ministerial meeting held in Lampung province on Tuesday.
"We must continue promoting the development of a sustainable and eco-friendly coconut industry and plantations," the minister said, adding that the meeting was held to facilitate relevant stakeholders to exchange information on innovation and technology in developing a sustainable coconut industry in coconut-producing countries.
Hasan said Lampung was chosen to host the ministerial meeting as coconut is one of the province's flagship commodities with a total output of over 75,000 tons in 2022, mostly exported to countries such as the United States, China, Australia and Japan.
The minister also called on the participation of coconut farmers in a sustainable coconut industry to have the capacity to mitigate the impact of climate change on coconut production. ■