US, UK companies join international agri, food show in RP

Leading companies in the United States and the United Kingdom are joining Agrilink 2002 and Foodlink 2002, the Philippines’ biggest and most prestigious international agribusiness and food trade show, which will be held at the World Trade Center Metro Manila on Oct. 10-12

Their participation was confirmed by US Livestock Genetics Export (USLGE), the Illinois Department of Agriculture, and the Trade Partners UK.

The USLGE is a non-profit, livestock-specific trade association representing US firms in the dairy, beef, sheep, swine and horse breeding industries, while the Illinois Department of Agriculture assists Illinois-based agribusiness companies in market development activities.

On the other hand, the Trade Partners UK is the British government department responsible for overseas trade development and promotion.

Represented by the trade and investment section of the British Embassy Manila, the Trade Partners UK also facilitates British investments in the Philippines and assists Filipino firms find suppliers in the United Kingdom.

Its website www.tradeuk.com enables local firms to match and forward their needs electronically to over 60,000 British companies.

Their participation in Agrilink and Foodlink will open up vast opportunities for Filipino firms to acquire modern technologies, forge reciprocal marketing tie-ups, enter into joint ventures, establish a global network or international alliances, or simply find new products for local distribution.

Organized by the Foundation for Resource Linkage and Development (FRLD), Agrilink and Foodlink are supported by the Department of Agriculture, National Agriculture and Fishery Council and some 30 local industry associations as co-organizers.

These twin international events support the government’s thrust toward agricultural modernization and food security by completing the efforts of local industries to gain access to new technology and find new market through global linkages, according to FRLD president Antonio V. Roces.

"To accommodate the growing number of foreign and local exhibitors and visitors, Agrilink 2002 and Foodlink 2002 will occupy all of the three exhibition halls of the WTC," Roces added.

Other details can be obtained from the FRLD (tel. 8384549, 8384852; fax 8384573, or email [email protected]).

At the same time, retail selling and all the technology seminars of Agrilink and Foodlink will be held at the exhibition area so that the participants need not go out of the WTC.

Last year, the companies that took part in Agrilink and Foodlink conducted 20 technical and livelihood seminars which included those on artificial insemination in practice, recent advances and development in swine nutrition, diversified species for freshwater aquaculture, status of fish health in the Philippines, food and feed safety of biotech products, dry pea for feed and food applications and critical roles of packaging in the global market, among others.

The number of participating firms in last year’s Agrilink and Foodlink reached almost 200 occupying a total of 262 indoor and outdoor booths and attracting over 14,000 visitors.

For this year, an even bigger number of exhibitors and visitors is expected.