Thailand is the latest and ninth country to join the memorandum of understanding (MOU) that the Philippines has initiated for a region-wide, private sector-led micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) development plan for the agriculture sector.
(Photo from Go Negosyo founder Joey Concepcion's office)
Thailand’s Association of Southeast Asian Nations-Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC) signed the MOU, which aims to help MSMEs in the agriculture sector grow their reach and access larger markets, last Jan. 29.
The ASEAN-BAC leaders, including Philippine Chair and Go Negosyo Founder Joey Concepcion, have previously highlighted that it is ready to strengthen the private sector-government synergy to promote economic growth in the region.
“This is an absolute win for the ASEAN, for its MSMEs, and for agriculture and food security in the region,” Concepcion said in a statement on Thursday, Feb. 1.
“Successful ventures made possible by the region-wide partnerships can result in the agriculture sector’s development by involving more players across the value chain, especially farmers and fisherfolk,” he explained.
The signing of the MOU, which took place during the 99th ASEAN BAC Council Meeting held at Luang Prabang in Lao People’s Democratic Republic, reaffirmed the commitment of the council chairs to pursue its objectives.
The MOUs covered the exploration of joint partnerships in knowledge and technology development; trade and investment opportunities; research and development; and strategies in sustainable agriculture, among others.
The areas of collaboration with Thailand cover rice, banana, vegetables, and palm oil, according to the statement from Concepcion's office.
The agri-MSME development partnerships were patterned after Go Negosyo’s Kapatid Angat Lahat sa Agri Program (KALAP) which aims to integrate small farmers into the value chain of large agri companies, also called “big-brother companies” under the said program.
Present during the signing were Concepcion, Vathit Chokwatana, Visit Limlurcha, and Kobsak Duangdee for ABAC Thailand, Go Negosyo Senior Adviser Dr. William Dar, and ABAC Philippines’s George Barcelon and Michael Tan.
Thanongsinh Kanlagna of Laos, Moe Kyaw of Myanmar, Dr. Robert Yap of Singapore, Oudet Souvannavong of Laos, Chanthachone Vongsay of Laos, Jukhee Hong of Malaysia, and ASEAN BAC Executive Director Gil Gonzales were also in attendance to witness the signing.