COCONUT producers, processors and handicraft makers in Davao City are preparing for a benchmarking mission to Japan sometime in October this year and participate in a global trade fair. Coconut industry chair Rosella Villaruel, an officer of Philippine Coconut Authority, told consultants of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) that various coconut products from Davao like coco sugar, virgin coconut oil, coco fiber, coco-based soap, active carbon, geonets and coco peat will be displayed in a special booth during the Japan trade fair. “We’re preparing brochures and product information handbills for the trade fair, but we have to make sure they’re all translated in Japanese,” Villaruel told JICA consultants. Villaruel said the coconut industry team is looking forward to meeting potential buyers during the Japan trade fair, not just Japanese buyers but also other foreign traders and importers from China, US and Europe. To be highlighted by the coconut industry team are the various by-products of coconuts produced from the coco husks, coco shells, coco trunks, coco water, among others, instead of traditional products like copra, coconut oil and the like which have many buyers who already export these commodities to US, Europe and other global markets. PNA