Sri Lanka’s historic coconut-based exports received a new lease of life recently as a top Japanese coop-federation – also considered as a leading agro association in the world – started directly partnering with the apex export entity, the Export Development Board (EDB) to strengthen the surging sector.

The Lankan coconut sector is getting another international breakthrough with the first-ever Lankan coco peat delegation scheduled to leave for Japan this October, facilitated by the EDB.

“We welcome Japan Zen-Noh’s assistance. It is time to focus on value-added coco peat and other coconut-based exports,” stressed EDB Chairman and CEO Bandula Egodage recently in Colombo.

Egodage was addressing the visiting four-member delegation from Japanese National Federation of Agricultural Cooperative Associations (Japan Zen-Noh), which arrived to begin its Lankan partnership through coco peat export product support.