PHILIPPINES-INDONESIA BILATERAL TRADE DISCUSSION – Key representatives from Indonesia and the Philippines recently discussed the continuous development of bilateral trade and investment between the two countries. Present during the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding for Indonesia’s procurement of coconut products from the Philippines were (from left): Robert Popy, President-Director of Lucky Intercoco; Hermie Limbo, CEO of Franklin Baker; Ambassador of Indonesia to the Philippines Sinio Hari Sarundajang; Enggartiasto Lukita, Minister of Trade of Indonesia; Andre Atmadja, President Director of Mayora Group; Emmanuel Piñol, Secretary of the Department of Agriculture; Ramon Lopez, Secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry; Winston Luychinco, President & CEO of Wesscon Exim, Inc.; and William Guido, President & CEO of Team Asia Corporation.
By Bernie Cahiles-Magkilat
PT Mayora Indah Tbk (Mayora), producer of the popular 3-in-1 coffee brand Kopiko, has announced over $80-million investments in the Philippines for local coffee manufacturing and processing operations over the next five years.
According to a company statement, Mayora inked a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Lima Land, Inc.(LLI) to lease property within LLI’s Special Economic Zone in Malvar, Batangas.
The MOU was signed on Monday, April 1, 2019, during the bilateral meeting between Philippines Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon M. Lopez and Indonesian Trade Minister Enggartiasto.
Lopez said the coffee manufacturing and processing facility is projected to employ 200 in the initial stage and 3,000 in five years. This will be on top of the 4,500 jobs that Mayora’s Philippine-based businesses currently employ.
The Batangas coffee production will help meet increasing demand of coffee for local consumption and exports. Kopiko is known as the country’s most popular 3-in-1 coffee brand, the statement added.
In announcing the company’s expansion in the Philippines, PT Mayora Indah Tbk Andre Atmadja said the expansion is a way of expressing their gratitude to the Filipino consumers for making Kopiko a successful brand.
“We thank our consumers in the Philippines for making Kopiko a successful coffee brand. Kopiko was developed with the Filipino consumer in mind. It was locally designed to meet the Filipinos’ taste preference. And Kopiko has succeeded in keeping Filipino workers energized and productive each day – Buhay araw-araw!” said Atmadja.
Atmadja said that its strong base in the Philippines and its growing business in the ASEAN region have prompted the Indonesian firm to expand its manufacturing and processing operations into the Philippines.
“We look forward to the many opportunities that this landmark project will deliver particularly in the area of job creation and in enabling greater contribution to the Philippines economy,” he added.
As part of the plan to help boost local business, Mayora will source desiccated coconut and RBD coconut oil from several Philippine producers.
Lopez said that Mayora signed an MOU also during the bilateral meeting with the Indonesian trade minister for the purchase of 1,000 metric tons of desiccated coconut from Philippines’ Franklin Baker.
According to the statement, the Mayora Group has contributed roughly P7.8 billion annually to the Philippine economy in government taxes, employee salaries and benefits, and also through advertising and promotions.
The company has also launched socially relevant efforts to communities in which it operates during times of calamities, the statement added.