KOCHI, DEC. 8:  

India will host the 51st session/ministerial meeting of Asian and Pacific Coconut Community (APCC) in Kochi from February 2 to 5.

 

India, one of the founder members of APCC, currently holds the Chairmanship of APCC, which has 18 coconut producing countries.

 

The Kochi meeting will review the global coconut situation and hold deliberations on specific issues in coconut cultivation, processing, marketing and trade so as to evolve appropriate policy decision for the development of the sector, a press release issued here said.

 

The session is also expected to make inroads into the development of trade in coconut and coconut products between the member countries.

 

APCC member countries together contribute 90 per cent of world coconut production and export of coconut products. It also invited representatives from 20 non member countries where coconut cultivation is undertaken to explore the prospects for the establishment of an international centre of excellence for coconut.