PH Explores Russian Market for Carrageenan, Agar Agar

Ambassador to Russia Carlos D. Sorreta discusses the Russian market for processed sea weed with one of the carageennan and agar agar exhibitors. (V. Cara photo)

MOSCOW 22 February 2019 – There is a strong demand for processed carrageenan and agar agar in Russia and the Philippine Embassy in Moscow is exploring the possibility of sourcing these items from the Philippines, according to Ambassador to Russia Carlos D. Sorreta.

Ambassador Sorreta visited Ingredients Russia 2019 on 20 February 2019, the exhibition dedicated to ingredients for food and food products and saw that there is strong demand for carrageenan and agar agar in Russia.

(From left) Consul Mary Grace Perpetua, Ambassador to Russia Carlos D. Sorreta, and Projects Director for Ingredients Russia Maria Pozdnyakova. (V. Cara photo)

“Russia’s vast and growing food industry uses large amounts of processed carrageenan and agar agar, all of which are imported as there are no local sources for these in Russia,” Ambassador Sorreta said.

“The demand is there and we were able to touch base with some stakeholders here in Russia and hopefully we will be able to tap into that specific market here as well as in other states of the former USSR,” he added.

Aside from the food industry in Russia, these items are also in demand in Russia’s pharmaceutical and beauty products industries.

“We will be coordinating with our Department of Agriculture, Department of Trade and Industry, the Philippine Trade and Investment Center in Moscow, and the Philippine seaweed industry on this and hopefully we will soon be seeing these processed products in Russia,” the Philippine envoy said.

According to Philippine Government site
http://industry.gov.ph/industry/carrageenan/, “among the world’s top biggest exporters, the Philippines is a well-known and leading producer of carrageenan. “Philippine-grade” carrageenan is one of the most reliable inputs in meat processing, processed food, dairy products, condiments, personal care products, and pet food products.”

This is the 22^nd Ingredients Russia where 159 companies from 12 countries participated, while thousands of producers, business persons and specialists from Russia visited.

Accompanying Ambassador Sorreta at Ingredients Russia 2019 were Consul Mary Grace Perpetua, head of the Embassy’s Economic Section, Economic Officer Vida Cara, and Embassy interpreter Olga Kaplina, the. They were welcomed and shown around the exhibition by Ingredients Russia Projects Director Maria Pozdnyakova.

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For more information, visit www.moscowpe.dfa.gov.ph, or https://www.facebook.com/PHLinRussia.