VIETNAM COCONUT ASSOCIATION WORKS WITH INTERNATIONAL FINANCE CORPORATION (IFC) ON BUILDING A COCONUT SUPPLY CHAIN.

The Vietnam Coconut Association has disseminated information on the natural conditions of the coconut industry. Vietnam currently has 18 provinces with coconut plantations, covering 200,899 hectares and yielding 2,261,989 tons of coconuts. These are concentrated in the Mekong Delta and the Central Coast. There are currently 145 factories producing coconuts and coconut products, and approximately 600 businesses involved in the coconut industry. Export turnover in 2024 is projected at US$1.089 billion. 32 businesses have established raw material areas based on specialized cultivation models and farmer-linked models. Currently, businesses and localities nationwide have invested in 68 hectares of coconut plantations meeting international organic standards.

The Vietnam Coconut Association has provided information on the current state of technology application in the production of coconut products, including main products such as coconut oil, canned coconut water, coconut milk, coconut powder, coconut shell charcoal, coconut fiber mats, etc., as well as the production of coconut by-products. However, recently, due to the general impact across Asia of rising raw coconut prices, Vietnamese businesses have faced many difficulties in stabilizing their raw material supply chains. The Vietnam Coconut Association has implemented several support plans for businesses, such as the "Plan to build a coconut raw material supply chain through financial support from domestic credit institutions" and the "Plan to promote trade in the coconut industry to enhance the potential value and competitiveness of Vietnamese coconut products." Regarding fresh Vietnamese coconuts, they are relatively new to the international market, resulting in a lack of large-scale factories and difficulties in building sustainable supply chains.

The International Finance Corporation (IFC) is a member of the World Bank Group, established in 1956 to promote economic development and job creation in its member countries by providing private sector financing through concessional loans and support funds.

IFC representatives include:

1. Mr. Ernest Bethe, Chief Agriculture Specialist, Asia-Pacific Region

2. Mr. Richard Colback, Global Team Leader, Sustainable Crop Production Platform

3. Mr. Triyanto Fitriyardi, Coconut Specialist

4. Ms. Pham Hoang Van, Project Manager, Vietnam

5. Mr. Ngo Duc Minh, Consultant.

During the meeting, IFC representatives introduced the role of IFC in supporting private sector businesses in building the coconut industry value chain, enhancing export competitiveness and sustainable development, and making a positive contribution to sustainable growth and improving the position of Vietnamese businesses in the fruit supply chain in particular and the global coconut industry in general.

Following the meeting, the IFC expert delegation will conduct on-site surveys of several raw material areas and film and interview coconut farmers and some coconut industry businesses that have built supply chains and brought high value to the coconut industry, in order to develop necessary support plans for the Vietnamese coconut industry in the future.