The Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) formalized a partnership to remove roadblocks to shipping agricultural commodities to the global market.
The memorandum of agreement signed by the two agencies includes trade promotion, strategic investments, empowering small and medium enterprises and resolving issues such as market access and tariffs.
It covers key commodities including bananas, mangoes and seaweed while promoting high-value crops like coffee and cacao.
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The DA will create an Agri-Export Help Desk to manage export-related concerns and form commodity councils beginning January next year aimed at enhancing the coordination between government and private businesses.
Various groups including the Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc., and the Philippine Food Processors and Exporters Organization Inc. will be involved in this joint undertaking.
“Combining the resources and expertise of both agencies will unlock the full potential of Philippine agriculture,” Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said in a statement on Monday.
“This partnership is a step toward a prosperous and sustainable agricultural sector,” he added.
The DA said its Export Development Office has unveiled programs to boost the global trade of bananas, mangoes, seaweed, coconuts, and durian. In implementing this initiative, it also prioritizes coffee, cacao and other emerging crops.
But with this collaboration with the DTI, the DA is expecting to unlock new opportunities and drive growth in the farm sector.
“By improving market access and fostering innovation, the DA and DTI aim to position the Philippines as a global leader in food exports, benefiting farmers, fisherfolk, and other stakeholders across the value chain,” it added.
The latest government data showed that exports of agro-based products totaled $591.98 million as of October this year, up by 41.3 percent from $418.9 million in the same month the year prior.
The amount is equivalent to 9.6 percent of overall exports for the reference period.