MSG Secretariat accredited as an Official Observer of the International Coconut Community

28 August 2019

On the margins of the 55th Ministerial Conference happening in Manila, Philippines, the MSG Secretariat was awarded its certificate of accreditation as a full Observer of the International Coconut Community (ICC). The ICC is an inter-government organization of coconut producing countries organized in 1969 under the aegis of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN-ESCAP) with a membership of 20 coconut producing member countries and amounting for over 90 per cent of the world coconut production and exports of coconut products.

“Coconut is a tree of life and is an essential part of our lives as Pacific Islanders and the life of our economies generally. Therefore, the MSG Secretariat considers our partnership with the ICC as an integral one to harness and strengthen the fledging coconut sector in our countries. All our member states are also members of the ICC and that is why we have forged a closer cooperation with the ICC through the signing of an MOU in 2018”, Director General Ambassador Amena Yauvoli said.

Ambassador Yauvoli further added that, “we are excited to be accredited as a full Observer with the ICC and we look forward to closer collaboration with ICC and our members in re-energizing their coconut sector.”

Through its accreditation the MSG Secretariat is now an Official Observer at all conferences, events and meetings convened by the ICC including this meeting where Ministers of Agriculture and/or Commerce attended to deliberate on governance and other key issues affecting the coconut industries in member states. In representing the MSG Secretariat at this important conference, Mr. Romulo Nayacalevu, Program Manager for Governance and Legal Affairs and Mr. Christopher Waiwori, Senior Executive Officer, not only attended sessions but also presented a synopsis on the work of the MSG Secretariat.

Delegates at the 55th Ministerial Conference also attended the opening of the 2nd World Coconut Congress hosted by the Philippines Coconut Authority and the Government of Philippines at the margins of the 55th Ministerial Conference.

“Our participation in this important sector demonstrates the commitment of the Secretariat to support our membership in line with our 2038 Prosperity for All Plan that was endorsed by our Leaders and to implement our MOU with ICC which is bearing fruits through such participations,” Mr. Nayacalevu adds.

Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Fiji were represented at ministerial level, while Vanuatu was represented at Senior Officials level and whose delegation included the representatives of Vanuatu’s (coconut) private sector.