19 Ph Agri Companies on Trade Missions to UAE

by Staff Report | News

DUBAI: The Philippine Department of Agriculture is set to take part in two important upcoming trade and marketing events in Dubai and Abu Dhabi as it aims to expand its exports to the lucrative Middle East markets.

The two events are the Middle East Natural & Organic Products Expo (MENOPE) in Dubai happening on Dec. 11-13,

2017 and SIAL Abu Dhabi on Dec. 12-14, 2017.

In a report to Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol, Undersecretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said19 Filipino agribusiness companies from across the country will take part in these successive trade and promotions events that will be held at the Dubai Convention and Exhibition Center for MENOPE and the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center for SIAL Abu Dhabi.

For MENOPE, participating companies include Alter Trade Corporation; Avante Agri-Products Philippines; JPM Eco Farm Inc.; and Eng Seng Food Products. Also part of the delegation are Castillejos Agri Farms Inc.; Galo Organic and Naturals; Biological Homeopathic Medical Corporation; and Northern Mindanao Federation of Dairy Cooperatives.

These agribusiness companies will showcase various fresh tropical fruits such as mango, Cavendish banana and pineapple; and coconut products and by-products such as virgin coconut oil (VCO), coco sugar and vinegar. They will also promote mascovado sugar; malunggay powder and tea; vacuum dried durian; dried mangoes; banana chips; tropical fruit jams; as well as milk, white cheese and yogurt.

For SIAL Abu Dhabi, agribusiness companies that will promote their products include Ahya Coco Organic Food Manufacturing Corporation; Ilocos Food Products, Escaba Food Products; Southern Philippines Fresh Fruits Corporation; Mofel’s Food International Corporation; Tropicana Food Products; Gabriel Fruits, and Greenlife Coconut Products Philippines Inc; JNRM Corporation; Team Asia Corporation; and Wellnesscare International Corporation.

They will showcase organic coconut products (coco water, VCO, desiccated coconut, coconut sugar, coconut syrup etc); fresh and organic fruits and vegetables; rice; native delicacies; fresh mangoes and bananas; canned meat products; banana chips and frozen bananas; chichacorn, coconut gel syrup; macapuno; and other preserves, among others.

“We are hopeful that these events will bring in fruitful results that will translate into increased agricultural exports and higher income for Filipino farmers and fisherfolks,” Puyat said.

These trade promotion activities will culminate in a Business-to-Business Meeting in Dubai on Dec. 16, 2017 designed to provide Philippine exporters with the opportunity to meet and present their products to invited buyers from across the region. Prospective buyers, for their part, are expected to discuss their requirements with the Filipino exporters.

With booming oil- and tourism-driven economies hosting hundreds of thousands of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), the Middle East is a very promising market for Philippine food products. The United Arab Emirates alone exported US$122.5 million worth of food and agricultural products in 2015, becoming the Philippines’ ninth export market.

DA’s participation in these events is spearheaded by the Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service (AMAS) and the Philippine Agricultural Attaché Office–Middle East.