Trade expo yields foreign interest to Armm products

AUTONOMOUS Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm) Regional Economic Zone Authority (Reza) head Roslaini Alonto-Sinarimbo said their participation in the four-day trade exposition was fruitful, though it was their first time to participate in such an event.

The trade exposition, dubbed as the Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Philippine-East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-Eaga) Expo 2011, was held at the Sabah Trade Center in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia.

Sinarimbo said their participation in the trade exposition drew foreign interest, citing business leaders from Brunei, Malaysia and Indonesia have expressed interest in importing fruits from growers in the Armm.

"They have asked for details about the possibility of exporting fruits from Armm," Sinarimbo said.

The 10-man delegation from the Armm, which Sinarimbo headed, showcased the region's products and vast economic potential that drew attention from business leaders of the three countries.

Armm's main agricultural products include bananas, pineapples, coconut derivatives and seaweeds as well as wood and textile handicrafts.

Sinarimbo said they will map out plans aimed at exporting Armm agricultural products especially banana, which is among the businessmen's preference from the three nearby countries. (Bong Garcia)