The Department of Agriculture (DA) has showcased the country’s coconut industry and other farm products during the 2022 Gulf Food Hotel and Equipment Exhibition and Salon Culinaire (Gulfood) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
In a statement issued on Feb. 15, DA Secretary William Dar encouraged companies in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries to consider investing in the Philippines’ agriculture sector.
“Through the years, coconut products, led by coconut oil, rank as the country’s top farm dollar-earner. Last year, exports totaled roughly $900 million (over P46 billion), which could be doubled in succeeding years, given the much-needed investments,” said Dar.
The country showcased agriculture products through “FOODPhilippines,” comprised of coconut products from various enterprises nationwide and mango, banana, coffee, pineapple, and cacao during the five-day exhibition from Feb. 13 to 17.
The FOODPhilippines showcased 39 Philippine food export companies and their respective products to thousands of Gulfood 2022 attendees.
It is spearheaded by the Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM), Export Marketing Bureau (EMB), and Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC) in Dubai and Jeddah, in partnership with the Rural Agro-enterprise Partnership for Inclusive Development (RAPID) Growth Project, and the DA-Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA).
According to Dar, the country needs more investments in coconut water processing systems and technologies, village-level coconut buying centers, and the establishment of copra processing facilities.
“We have vast resources of untapped natural resources, and year after year, our commitment of public funds for environmental programs continue to grow," Dar said.
"We have a skilled labor force, abundant sources of raw materials for manufacturing and processing, and a government that supports investors with favorable national policies and incentives,” he added.