A foreign investor inquires on the products of business owners from Central Luzon during the three-day summit of businessmen and entrepreneurs (June 11-13) held at the World Trade Center. Central Luzon entrepreneurs attract investors at the SIAL 2014
Entrepreneurs and business owners from Central Luzon showcased their products to foreign investors and traders alongside the promotion of Department of Agriculture’s (DA) new program Philippine Rural Development Program (PRDP) in Salon International de Agrolimentaire (SIAL) ASEAN on June 11-13, 2014 at the World Trade Center.
The DA through the Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service (AMAS) h as invited entrepreneurs from various regions to join the first ever SIAL in Manila to promote their products to interested buyers and investors from Asia and other parts of the world.
The DA pavilion also highlighted the PRDP, which is expected to be launched on the latter part of the year. The six-year program, co-funded by the World Bank, national government, and local government units aims to put in place interventions and projects that correspond to the priority commodities of a particular region based on their value chain analysis.
Initially, Central Luzon has identified ampalaya, goat, rice, coffee, onion, poultry, mungbean, and mango, among its priority commodities under PRDP.
Through SIAL, Better Country was able to meet eight interested traders and exporters that plan to sell their organic brown rice in Manila and in Saudi Arabia wherein specialty stores are available.
SIAL, which marks its 50th founding anniversary this year, is dubbed as one of the best platforms of food innovation around the world, and venue for business to business matching. It is co-housed with Manila Food and Beverage Expo (MAFBEX), which on the other hand focuses on selling Philippine products.
Businesses from Central Luzon such as Better Country Community Corporation in Gapan City, Nueva Ecija, TGA Farms, Inc. in Arayat, Pampanga, Angel Famous Gourmet Food Corporation of Magalang, Pampanga and Nipa Hut Processed Fruits Enterprises at San Leonardo, Nueva Ecija were the invited exhibitors in the MAFBEX pavilion.
MAFBEX exhibitors from the region garnered gross sales of P32, 165.00 for the three-day fair, not including the orders from the different interested buyers and traders. (Rosemarie Joson)
