MANILA — Philippine exporters are calling for more opportunities to showcase their products at international expos and increased support for raw material production, the Department of Agriculture (DA) announced Wednesday (12 Mar 2025).
This request follows the country’s participation in the 50th International Food and Beverage Exposition FOODEX Japan 2025, running from March 10 to 14. With over 80,000 exhibitors and 4 million global buyers, the expo features 28 Filipino exhibitors showcasing products like banana, pineapple, Hass avocado, coconut, and related by-products.
DA Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa highlighted the government’s commitment to supporting local exporters. “These expositions are crucial for promoting our products and expanding our exports. At the same time, we aim to help with the production of raw materials,” he said in a Zoom interview.
De Mesa added that many local producers face challenges in ensuring sufficient volumes, high quality, and competitive prices. In response, the DA plans to review regulations to simplify procedures for exporters, improve business processes, and focus on boosting raw material production. He also emphasized that increasing production would make raw materials more affordable, similar to the practices in Thailand and Vietnam.
The DA’s efforts aim to streamline support for exporters, making it easier to do business and expand the reach of Filipino products in international markets.
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