International Exhibit escalates Region 7 agribusiness
Region 7 escalates agribusiness opportunities in the recent 50th Southeast Asian Food Market Place (SIAL) at the World Trade Center in Manila. According to Gerry Avila, Agriculture Marketing and Agribusiness Division (AMAD) Chief of the Department of Agriculture (DA RFO 7), the event showcase priority investment areas of the region.
Among the priority commodities of Central Visayas are mango, coffee, cacao, highland and organic vegetable and cassava production. For the livestock and poultry sectors, priority investment areas include swine breeding and fattening; poultry, dairy milk, and goat meat production; the establishment of ‘triple A’ slaughterhouses; cold storage for fruits; meat, coffee and marine-aquaculture processing.
MCPI Corporation, a leading seaweeds and carageenan manufacturing and processing plant in the region is proposing a US$10M investment project for its plant upgrading and business expansion. Currently, the Export Development Council (EDC) noted a 43 percent growth in the marine and agriculture sector with 37 percent increase in fresh food export in the first quarter in 2014. Avila added that a positive development during the SIAL is that a number of international companies from the US, New Zealand, Tokyo and Malaysia have queried on a possible outsourcing of processed dried mangoes, ingredients of health foods such as sea cucumber, gluten-free flour blends, and virgin coconut oil-based products- a positive contributor of the agriculture economy of the region. Adding flavour to the regional resiliency after two major disasters, is the upcoming project of the Philippine Rural Development (PRDP) which was projected in the said exhibit. The SIAL was graced by the French Ambassador to the Philippines, Gilles Garachon; Secretary of the DA, Proceso Alcala; Joseph Ang, Founding Chairman of the Manila Foods and Beverages Expo (MAFBEX); foreign dignitaries, and private investors.
Above shows Secretary Proceso Alcala (center), signalling the official opening of the SIAL.
Highlighting the event was the 8th MAFBEX which gathered stakeholders of the food trade and industry. One of the most visited booths was that of Region 7, which showcased Cebu’s ‘chicharon’, and virgin coconut oil, among others. (Anna Delza S. Barimbao)