Qatari firm Baladna eyes dairy business in PH
MANILA, Philippines — Qatari agricultural firm Baladna is mulling over investing in a large-scale, fully integrated dairy facility in the Philippines, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said on Friday.
Established in 2014, Baladna is Qatar’s largest dairy and beverage producer, supplying over 95 percent of the country’s fresh milk.
The DTI said that Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual had an engagement in Doha with company officials regarding this plan last Thursday
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“The Philippine government stands ready to support Baladna to realize its planned investments in the country,” Pascual said in a statement.
“Through a whole-of-government approach, the DTI and the Board of Investments are ready to facilitate business-to-business meetings and introductions to potential joint venture partners for Baladna,” he added.
Pascual said the Department of Agriculture is actively identifying suitable locations for the proposed dairy facilities.
The trade chief added that this strategic investment aligns with the Philippine government’s pursuit of self-sufficiency in food and milk production.
Demand for dairy products
During the meeting with Baladna, Pascual highlighted the substantial demand for dairy products in the Philippines, noting that imports are nearing P3 billion annually.
Pascual also said that addressing this demand and supporting local production are key priorities of the Marcos administration.
He said there would be regulatory support for labeling fresh milk, UHT (ultrahigh temperature) milk, and imported frozen milk concentrate, as covered under the Philippine National Standard (PNS).
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This follows the concerns on mislabeling as raised in the Philippine National Dairy Roadmap 2020 to 2025.
The National Dairy Authority and the Food and Drug Administration are currently engaged in ongoing discussions and reviews of the PNS to ensure fair competition and protect consumers by maintaining clear and accurate labeling standards in the dairy industry.
Aside from Baladna, the DTI head has also met with officials of Qatar Cool, the largest district cooling system provider in the Middle Eastern country, to explore investment opportunities in the Philippines.
The DTI said that the company has expressed interest in partnering with major developers focusing on district-wide or township developments in the Philippines. —ALDEN M. MONZON
