The Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) Philippine Trade and Investment Centers (PTIC) across the United States hosted its first of a series of Trabaho, Negosyo, Kabuhayan (TNK) Agribusiness Webinar Series aimed at providing our Overseas Filipino Investors (OFI) and Filipino-Americans potential opportunities for investing agriculture-related ventures in the Philippines.
An estimated 50 participants were in attendance, which was also streamed simultaneously on Facebook Live with about 185 views. Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel G. Romualdez delivered the opening remarks, where he encouraged our Kababayans to explore potential opportunities in the agricultural sector, which has huge potential for growth.
The webinar, entitled “Discover Agribusiness Opportunities in the Philippines” was headlined by DTI Undersecretary Rafaelita M. Aldaba and Department of Agriculture (DA) Undersecretary Cheryl Natividad-Caballero.
Undersecretary Aldaba, who heads the DTI’s Competitiveness and Innovation Group (CIG) provided a snapshot of the priority agricultural products per region, plus initiatives of the DTI to support innovation in the agricultural sector. She discussed initiatives to link farmers to business support groups, research and development, and markets through the Regional Inclusive Innovation Centers (RIICs). In addition, she explained the various programs that would help bring farmers’ products to market, particularly the Rural Agro-Industrial Partnership for Inclusive Development (RAPID) Growth Project – aimed at spurring growth in the sectors of cacao, coconut, coffee, and processed fruits and nuts.
Undersecretary Caballero, who heads the DA’s Agri-Industrialization and Fisheries group, spoke about the DA’s compendium of programs aimed at supporting agribusiness entrepreneurs, including training programs, market linkages, loans/credit facilities, and agriculture youth programs to encourage the younger generation of Filipinos to use technology and innovation in the field agriculture.
The series will continue in June 2021. Registration details for the upcoming webinars will be available on the PTIC websites and social media pages.
