Canada taps Gaisano for agri-food exports

Canada is tapping Cebu's retail market for agri-food products to boost its exports to the Philippines.

Canadian ambassador to the Philippines Peter Sutherland said that the embassy is currently working on to close a deal with the Gaisano Group of Companies to supply Canadian agri-food products, like pork, beef, wheat products, poultry, salmon, and others noting the vibrant food retail business in the province.

"We are looking at growing our retail trade side of agri-food products in Cebu. Hopefully, after in Cebu, we could tap the entire country's (Philippines) retail market," Sutherland said.

This is the first time that Canada has recognized retail business as one of the promising channel to improve its exports to the Philippines.

The ambassador said Canada has not been able to enter into retail side of trading for these products in the past, as most Canadian companies for agri-food items are currently importing bulk volumes to hotels, some restaurants, and big companies.

If this deal with the Gaisano Group will be finalized, it means that there will be more Canadian food products, like meat, beef, and poultry, and others, be made available to the Cebuano market, as well as the rest of Visayas and Mindanao areas.

Gaisano supermarket outlets are present in the major cities in Southern Philippines. It also starts to enter the big Luzon market.

He said trading is just one part of Canada's relationship to the country, including Cebu.

He mentioned the presence of Canadian-owned electronic firm in Mactan Export Zone,-Celestica (formerly NEC) as is the biggest Canadian-investment in Cebu employing over 3,000 people.

Big companies like General Milling, Philmico, and other are importing their wheat requirements from his country.

Now, he said is the good time to tap the booming food retail sector in Cebu, and eventually to the entire country to increase its exports to the Philippines.

Aside from retail, the ambassador mentioned other opportunities that Canadian investors could venture into such as the mining sector, following the Philippines decision to open mining related investments to foreign-owned companies.

"Canada is one of the major mining countries, we have seen a big opportunity for mining exploration related investment in the Philippines," he said adding that there are also some interests from Canadian investors to develop energy technology in the country.

The ambassador was the guest of honor during the formal presentation of "Weaving Dreams" video by the Gifts, Toys and Houseware (GTH) exporters in Cebu to express their appreciation for Canada's big help to strengthen the industry, through the Canadian Industry Development Agency (CIDA) Pearl-2 program.

The Canadian government through the CIDA-Pearl-2 has been allocating huge funds, in its bid to help alleviate poverty to helping small and thriving industries like GTH to grow in order to provide employment especially to the poor communities.

Canadians are one of the biggest markets for Cebu-made GTH items, like baskets, and other house accessories, including furniture.