Invited by the Executive Director of the International Coconut Community (ICC) and approved by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China, six experts including Prof. WANG Fufu and Pro. FAN Haikuo of Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences (CATAS)attended the Virtual 56th ICC Session & Ministerial Meeting from 24-26 November 2020 as representatives of the observer organization.

       Venue of International Coconut Community Headquarters in Jakarta, Indonesia

This meeting was hosted by the ICC. The host country Samoa of 2020, Indonesia, Micronesia and other 20 countries attended the meeting. As CATAS plays an increasingly important role in the development of the world coconut industry, ICC invited CATAS to attend the meeting as the observer organization.

      Key areas of discussion in the meeting included the following: Update on global scenario of coconut sector during COVID-19 pandemic, report & plan of activities of International Coconut Genetic Resources Network (ICC-COGENT), major international programs for 2021: international COCOTECH conference,international coconut IPM symposium,international training course for coconut development officers at CRI, Sri Lanka, presentation and adoption of the 56th Virtual ICC Session & Ministerial Meeting Report, venue and date of the 57th ICC Session & Ministerial Meeting , etc.

       Through the global analysis and discussion on coconut industry by the decision makers, leader of coconut industry and industry participants, the meeting made the coconut industry practitioners obtain the latest information industry development, understand the latest dynamic and coconut industry facing the problems. It also strengthened China's contact with other coconut producer countries. It will promote the development of coconut industry in China, expanding Chinese influence in the field of the world coconut research.

Venue of Coconut Research Institute of CATAS