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Monday, August 22, 2005
Value added products giving tuna industry a major boost
THE city's multibillion tuna industry has received a major boost this year with the emergence of the tuna value-added sector as a major export earner, a report from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said.
Nelly Dillera, DTI Region 12 information officer, said the city's tuna value-added ventures is fast developing as another local industry, now composed of at least 23 registered micro, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and directly employing at least 500 workers.
She said eight of these tuna value-added-based SMEs have already been exporting their products to various international markets such as Hong Kong, Korea, Japan and United States.
Dillera cited that in 2004 alone, the export earnings of the sector reached at least US$11.5 million.
The tuna value-added sector had been exporting as 20 variations of tuna such as tuna chorizo, longaniza, patties, spring roll, kekiam, sausage, chicharon, embotido, siomai, lumpia, nuggets and barbecue.
"And the list goes on and on as the ever creative entrepreneurs introduce more new cuisine much to the delight of the fast-paced lifestyle and the growing health-conscious consumers, Dillera said.
Dillera said the tuna value-added sector's "bright prospects in the industry" were mainly due to the abundance of local raw materials, availability of skills and technology, existing local market and expanding foreign market.
She said the city's resurging tuna fishing and canning industries, which eventually transformed the city into the country's "Tuna Capital," also ushered in the development of the tuna value-added business.
Dillera particularly cited the establishment of the city fish port complex, which is considered as the most modern and second largest in the country.
She said there are at least 40 cold storage plants in the city that can accommodate 12,615.60 metric tons of tuna per day.
Owing to these prospects, Dillera said the DTI is now focusing its efforts on the development of the tuna value-added sector into a major local industry.
She said they have lined up various development initiatives for tuna value-added sector, which had been tapped by the city government for the national government's One Town One Product (OTOP) program.
(Our) current efforts are on product development activities such as packaging and labeling, technology research and development to improve productivity and introduce new products and exposure to local and foreign markets through fairs and linkages," she said. (Allen V. Estabillo)
For Bisaya stories from General Santos.Click here. (This section is updated every Monday)
(August 22, 2005 issue)
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