Agencies to help seaweed industry

STAKEHOLDERS of the seaweed exporting industry in Central Visayas recently entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with foreign agencies to assist them in the implementation of a market diversification project, otherwise referred to as the sectoral export marketing plan (Semp).

Among those that expressed interest in extending assistance to the Seaweed Industry Association of the Philippines (Siap) are the Center for the Promotion of Imports from Developing Countries (CBI) of the Netherlands, as one of the main proponents of the project, and the Confederation of Philippine Exporters Foundation Cebu (Philexport).

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The German Development Service (DED) and the Private Sector Promotion Program of the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ), in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), are also partners under the agreement.

Cooperation

Under the MOU, a copy of which was furnished to Sun.Star Cebu by Siap, the proponents of the program identified potential areas of cooperation that the Siap and the different agencies will be working on.

This includes the coordination of activities and exchange of information in the context of the market diversification module and Semp project, training programs and seminars as well as the sourcing of primary and secondary market data from members and other stakeholders.

The MOU also outlined the responsibilities of each collaborating agency. Philexport Cebu, aside from providing the logistical and manpower support to the project, will also take the lead in organizing a technical working group and assign local export experts to the group.

The CBI, for its part, will provide sector experts from the Netherlands to help and guide the individual technical working groups involved in the project, while the DED and the GTZ will also field experts from the agency for consultations.

Funds

The DTI, on the other hand, will facilitate the release of funds from the Export Support Fund and provide a venue for coordination meetings, like its conference rooms at its regional and provincial offices.

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources will also come in to provide expert advice on seaweed farming, identify the key players in the value chains and make available research data that can be useful to the industry.