Mindanao braces for new markets

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

MINDANAO today bares its robust position as the country's premier food source and a major export growth driver in the international food market when the 8th International Food Exhibition (Ifex) Philippines opens today.

Participating Mindanao industry players, traders, producers, and exporters at the Ifex Philippines 2011 are poised to show off the best and the finest of the island’s products as a means to create new markets and open more business opportunities that create jobs for Mindanawons.

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This year's Ifex Philippines pays tribute to Mindanao as its first-ever partner island that will be featured in a major sub-event dubbed as the "Mindanao: Best of the Islands Food Show".

The special feature on Mindanao is a centerpiece event in this year's Ifex Philippines 2011 being held from May 12 to May 14, at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City, Manila.

Organized in partnership with DTI's Regional Operations and Development Group (RODG), the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (Citem), and MinDA, the Mindanao Pavillion in this year's 8th Ifex will feature showcases from the participating Regions: 9, 10, 11, 12, Caraga and Armm.

More than 20 SMEs from the provinces of South Cotabatao, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and Sarangani, and the cities of General Santos, Tacurong, Koronadal and Kidapawan are expected at Thursday's launch of Ifex 2011's Mindanao Pavilion.

They will showcase their products such as muscovado sugar, mangosteen tonic, jams and jellies, banana chips, civet coffee, durian tart, value added tuna products, coconut sugar, processed white meat products, pickled papaya, and virgin coconut oil.

Products from the neighboring areas of Brunei Darussalam- Indonesia-Malaysia-the Philippines East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-Eaga) will also be showcased.

The Pavilion, which is supported by USAID's Growth with Equity in Mindanao (GEM) Program in partnership with the DA and MinDA, will highlight Socksargen as its featured partner region for 2011.

Sec. Luwalhati Antonino, chairperson of the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), said the government's participation in high impact, international events such as the IFEX are crucial in promoting market opportunities in Mindanao which has positioned itself as the country’s food basket and major agribusiness center.

"Giving our food producers sufficient exposure and opportunities to link with emerging foreign markets is a strategic way to sustain economic growth in the island-region," Antonino said.

Antonino added that it is the Aquino administration's thrust to improve institutional linkages for the country's local traders and enhance their export potentials for economic growth.

Mindanao accounts for 40% of the Philippines' food requirements and contributes more than 30% to the national food trade. With aggressive and sustained government and private sector cooperation in harnessing its potentials, our rich agricultural resources can serve as the Philippine's foundation for sustainable growth.

A Mindanao Agribusiness Investment Forum will also be held as a side event in the afternoon of the exhibit's first day, with speakers from the invited food producing companies, as well as senior officials of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry. A business matching session will follow.

"We hope that today's forum will provide the strategic venue to foster greater understanding of the challenges and opportunities as well as finding the common ground to pursue ventures that underpin business growth and economic development," Antonino said.

Ifex Philippines is the only government-sponsored food exhibition that has gathered significant business results for Philippine food exporters, traders, and producers for the past 7 years, even generating as much as 65.5M dollars in export sales and P42M worth of retail sales on its 3-day run last year. (PR)