"The exports to the Philippines produced 1.44 million US dollars, and had been a golden opportunity for the coconut growers," head of the N Sulawesi industrial and trade agency Sanny Parengkuan said here Wednesday.
The exports to that country, Sanny said, at the same time confirmed the province`s position as a highly potential cropa producer in Southeast Asia.
"The Philippines was known as a major coconut producer in Southeast Asia, and its imports from the province made it a region to be reckoned with," Sanny said.
Sanny added that the copra exports to the Philippines were actually not new for the province, but at least its confirmed the region as a producer meeting the needs of many other countries.
Copra, he added, is a main source of income for the people of North Sulawesi, as more than 10 types of integrated coconut products of the local farmers, consisted of copra.
Head of the foreign trade division of the North Sulawesi industrial and trade agency Hanny Wajong said the copra exports to the Philippines had been estimated to be bigger that the figures, because it did not include the direct dispatches from the farmers of Sangihe.
Secretary general of the Association of North Sulawesi Coconut Growers (Apeksu) has asked the local administration to intensify its coconut rejuvenation drive in view of the increasing exports of integrated coconuts.
"The high demands of the market need to be offset by increased production, my among other things rejuvenation," Emil said.
(Uu.H-NG/A014/P003)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
