The coconut palm (Cocos nucifera L.) is aptly described as the ‘tree of life’ with multifarious uses. It is grown in 93 countries worldwide in about 12 million ha. It is a crop which is socially and culturally linked, besides providing jobs and income, to millions of people. In Malaysia, it is the fourth important crop in terms of acreage, after oil palm, rubber and paddy and has significant socio-economic implications as it is estimated to provide a source of revenue for 80,000 households. In addition, it supports a vibrant small and medium coconut-based industrial sector with a positive trade balance of about RM81.2 million in 2007. Despite the socio-economic significance, questions intermittently arise as to the future prospects of the domestic coconut industry in Malaysia especially in the context of volatile and uncertain prices and the decreasing interest shown by farmers. On the other hand, increasing demand for coconut and coconut-based products worldwide mirrors a rather conflicting scenario. Is it truly a sunset industry as claimed by many of its detractors or otherwise? This conference highlights the latest global and domestic developments in the coconut industry and the opportunities available to expand its utilization horizon and aspects of the Malaysian government’s re-vitalization plan and its implementation.

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