Philippine food firms try to penetrate Taiwan market

Ten Philippine food exhibitors have booked $13.7 million—or roughly P600 million at the prevailing exchange rate—in sales at a recent food show in Taipei, where the country’s “power fruits” and their derived products grabbed the spotlight to gain international recognition anew.

According to the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (Citem), the sales made by these local companies, which represented the official country brand Food Philippines, surpassed the $10-million sales target.

Among the power fruits that made waves at the 24th Taipei International Food Show (TIFS) held last month included coconut, pineapple, mango and banana, and their derived products, namely virgin coconut oil, coco powder, coco cream, natural buco juice, muscovado sugar, flavored jellies, dried mangoes and dried pineapples.

Citem, the export promotions arm of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), explained that the country’s product offerings during the four-day food trade fair were aligned with the growing demand of the Taiwanese market for healthier and more natural food options.

Selling these fruit products were 10 local small and medium enterprises that occupied the 108-square meter Philippines Pavilion in Taipei. These companies were identified as Alter Trade Corp.; Andy Albao Enterprises; DLA Naturals; Fruits of Life; M. Lhuillier Food Products Inc.; Miesto International Foods Corp.; See’s International Foods Corp.; Team Asia Corp.; Tiongson Marketing and Export Services; and Tropicana Food Products, Inc., Citem disclosed.

“It was a mission accomplished for our local exporters which joined TIFS because they had good sales and received numerous business inquiries. There were big buyers who met with several of our exhibitors and it was a very good opportunity to increase our local food exports in Taiwan,” said Citem executive director Rosvi C. Gaetos.

Gaetos also disclosed that the Philippines was able to score a breakthrough during the TIFS, as the country has been allowed to export its pineapples to Taiwan. The export of Philippine bananas and mangoes is currently being assessed by Taiwanese officials, as discussed during a meeting between local officials and Deputy Director Daniel Tse-Wei of the Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine Council of Agriculture.

“Our participation in TIFS is one of the strategic ways to strengthen ties with Taiwan,” Gaetos further said. Amy R. Remo