DUE to the limited time of the availability of its local mangoes, Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Amando Gorely said there is a demand for Philippine mangoes in Australia.
"Dried mangoes are popular in Australia but there is also a market for Philippine fresh mangoes," Gorely said at the sidelines of the Philippine-Australia Friendship Day Mall Festival at the SM Lanang Premier, Davao City on May 26, 2018.
She said Australia produces its own mangoes but it is only available for only four months in a year, as compared to the Philippine Mangoes, which are available for most of the year.
Gorely said there are already protocols in place for mangoes that will be exported to Australia.
In 2016, Australia and the Philippines signed an amended version of Australia-Philippines Specific Commodity Understanding (SCU) that expanded the export market for Philippine mangoes. The agreement builds on a 2013 agreement which created export opportunities for mango farmers in Guimaras, Samal Island, and Davao del Sur.
At present, Australia is also supporting a mango research project on Samal Island, Davao del Norte. The Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) provided AUS$1.1 million grant funding to a 4-year project which passed on farming technology that improved mango quality and size for Davao farmers.
“Agriculture is a shared agenda of Australia and the Philippines. It drives food security, poverty reduction and economic growth. We support the Philippine Government’s initiatives, especially to help farmers increase productivity and build their capacity to trade and gain better access to markets,” Australian Embassy Deputy Head of Mission Mat Kimberley said in a statement.
Aside from mangoes, Gorely said cacao-products also have the potential to enter the Australian market.
"There is a huge potential (for cacao products) because Australians love chocolates," she said.
Clothing, home wares, and accessories also have the potential to be exported to Australia.
Gorely also pointed out that marketing the products as truly Filipino-made may help boosting the demand of the products in the Australian market.
"I think there is also premium on products from other countries that are exotic. The Philippines can market that brand to Australian consumers who are adventurous, those who like having products from other places," she said. (With PR)