Sri Lanka is looking to import coconut products from Indonesia to address the current coconut shortage in the country, an official from the Coconut Development Authority has confirmed.
The initiative, led by the Ministry of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development and the Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure, is expected to be formalized through a cabinet paper.
Although initially delayed for a re-assessment of the proposed import measures, the new cabinet paper, focusing on coconut products such as kernels, coconut powder, and coconut milk, is expected to be submitted next week.
According to Shantha Ranathunga, Chairman of the Coconut Development Authority, Indonesia has been identified as the most suitable country for importing these products.
Ranathunga also confirmed that a previous proposal to conduct a study on importing whole coconuts has been abandoned. Instead, the focus will be on coconut-derived products, with individual manufacturers permitted to import these as needed.
The imports will be equivalent to 200 million nuts’ worth of coconut products.
The cabinet paper is likely to be approved in the coming weeks, which is expected to provide relief to industries and consumers affected by the coconut shortage.
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