Philippine agriculture attachés around the world opened up new opportunities for local farmers and fisherfolk, investors and businesses, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said on Thursday.
DA said they were able to generate and register P5.7 billion and $1.6 billion in combined sales and sales pledges last year from China, South Korea, Japan and from other Southeast Asian countries.
“These milestones, which secured tens of billions of pesos in export sales, would support our farm and fishery sector, and at least help narrow our agricultural trade deficit,” Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said.
“Our attachés also strengthened bilateral and multilateral relations, benefiting millions of Filipino farmers and fisherfolk,” he added.
Attaché Annalyn Lopez played a key role in securing market access for four Philippine fishery establishments to export to Vietnam,the department said.
She also helped expand the market for Philippine durian in Malaysia, and to participate in the Thaifex ANUGA 2024 trade show where P1.5 billion in sales were booked and another P3.5 billion in additional potential sales was achieved.
Lopez was also instrumental in bringing to fruition two memorandums of understanding, signed by the Agriculture Department with Vietnam and a letter of intent with Brunei to advance bilateral agricultural relations.
She also helped implement co-operation projects with Thailand, that focused on rainmaking technology and agricultural cooperatives.
In China, Counsellor Jerome Bunyi was pivotal in the Philippines’ successful participation at the China International Import Expo where 17 exhibitors generated an estimated $1.6 billion in sales and sales pledges.
Philippine bananas, Durian, pineapples and coconuts were a hit at the expo, the department said.
As for South Korea, Attaché Lev Nikko Macalintal helped establish the Korea Agricultural Machinery Industrial Complex in Cabanatuan, aimed at boosting local agricultural productivity.
Macalintal also helped facilitate P297.27 million in sales at the Seoul Food 2024, and worked on potential agreements with South Korea’s Ministries of Agriculture and of the Interior and Safety.
In the case of Japan, Attaché Maria Alilia Maghirang secured market access for fresh Philippine Hass avocados to Tokyo, and helped smooth out various market access issues on bananas, pineapples and mangoes.
Maghirang also led the Philippine agrifood promotional activities, including at FOODEX Japan 2024 and the International Seafood Show Tokyo 2024 that generated P361 million in sales.
