TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko Widodo or Jokowi visited East Java on Monday, July 22, 2024, to inaugurate the 51st International Cocotech Conference and Exhibition (Cocotech).

Jokowi and his entourage boarded the Indonesia-1 Presidential Aircraft from Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base, Jakarta, at around 07:00 local time.

Jokowi went straight to Surabaya City after arriving at Sidoarjo’s Juanda International Airport. "The President is scheduled to open and inaugurate the 51st Cocotech in Surabaya," said Deputy for Protocol, Press and Media Bureau of the Presidential Secretariat M. Yusuf Permana in a written statement.

While inaugurating the conference, Jokowi said coconut commodities have promising opportunities in the green economy and renewable energy sector. He also aimed to implement downstream for the coconut industry to boost its added value.

“Utilize the technology and downstream (for the coconut industry). I'm seeing bioenergy from coconut waste and bioavtur from the coconut," said Jokowi, quoted from a live broadcast from the Presidential Secretariat.

Indonesia has 3.8 million hectares nationwide of coconut grounds. Coconut farming produces 2.8 million tons per year, he said, with North Sulawesi and Riau at the forefront. Exports of coconut products in Indonesia generated US$1.55 billion

Coconut Technical Panel (Cocotech) Conference and Exhibition is an international coconut conference and exhibition held biennially to promote the global coconut sector.

This event aims, among other things, to exchange ideas, best practices, policy recommendations, and collaborative efforts to promote food and energy security.

The 51st Cocotech carries the theme 'Harnessing Coconut’s Potential as the Tree of Life and Green Energy' which highlights the importance of the coconut sector as a sustainable solution.

After the inauguration ceremony, the President and his entourage will continue their journey to Papua Province. The president is accompanied by Minister of State Secretary Pratikno, President’s Military Secretary Major General Rudy Saladin, Paspampres Commander Major General Achiruddin, and Deputy for Protocol, Press and Media Bureau of the Presidential Secretariat M. Yusuf Permana during his visit to East Java.

DANIEL A. FAJRI

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