Agri forum generates P400 million in investment proposals

MANILA, Philippines - The National Convergence Agri-Investment Forum held last Nov. 25 at the AIM Conference Center generated up to P400 million in investment proposals involving projects on coconut oil production, organic garlic production and processing, mushroom production and expansion, and corn post-harvest project, among others.

This was disclosed by the National Convergence Initiative secretariat head Marriz B. Agbon who is also president of the Philippine Agricultural Development and Commercial Corp.

The first-ever agri-investment forum organized by the Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) National Convergence Initiative caught the interest of potential investors who were willing to invest in one or more of the proposals presented during the forum.

Thirteen out of 17 proposed projects met the requirements of investors present during the event. 

Follow-up meetings and more detailed discussion of the proposals are now being scheduled between the investors and the proponents.

“They want to see and visit personally the farm sites of palm oil plantation,”Loreta Garcia of Alicia Community Multi-Purpose Cooperative (ACMPC) said.

ACMPC is the proponent of Market Support Services to Palm Oil Production in Alicia, Bohol.

The cooperative was able to meet with Son Bo Ram of the Korean Chamber and CCALS International, a Philippine-based raw material trading firm.

CCALS also had a chance to meet with the proponents of Rubber Production Maintenance and Marketing proposed by Tungawan ARB Multi-purpose Cooperative (TIMARBEMCO). 

Representatives from Agri Nurture Inc. (ANI), Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP), Landbank of the Philippines (LBP) and Qatar Embassy also participated in exploratory talks on agribusiness investments opportunities particularly on the proposals prepared by the regional Convergence Initiative Technical Working Groups throughout the Philippines.       – Marianne Go