Header AD

Philippines To Export Shrimps, Bananas To Russia Under President Duterte


The Department of Agriculture (DA) under the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte is eyeing Russia as an “exciting” market for the Philippine shrimp industry, its top official said.

Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol, who was the guest of honor at the opening of the three-day 11th National Shrimp Congress held at the SMX Convention Center in Bacolod City Thursday, November 16, said he recently had talks with his Russian counterpart during the bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Meeting in Vietnam.


Secretary Piñol was with President Duterte, who met with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

In that meeting, President Putin was very empathic in telling President Duterte to start delivering agricultural products as they have the money, he said.

“This is where I would like to bring the shrimp industry,” Secretary Piñol said.

“We have to get our act together. We cannot operate independently,” he added.

The DA official said he will meet with feed and flour millers and ask them to partner with shrimp industry players, as well as with banana growers.

The key to a successful engagement with Russia is backloading, Secretary Piñol said.

“We deliver, they deliver. We backload shrimps, banana and everything we produce in this country. This could mean less cargo and freight costs and that will make us competitive,” he said.

By the end of this month, the national government will form a technical working group that would focus on trade engagements between the Philippines and Russia.

Secretary Piñol said he will send an inspection team to Russia next month.

In February 2018, the government will hold the Philippine-Russia Trade and Business Forum in Davao City.

The forum will allow local shrimp industry players to directly engage with their Russian counterparts, Secretary Piñol said.

“I will wait for the outcome of this congress, which we will use in building a roadmap for the shrimp industry. This development plan will make you feel that government after all cares for you,” he said.

The DA’s priority measures to further boost the agriculture and fishery sectors are technology, financing and marketing, Secretary Piñol said.

With an annual production of 50,000 metric tons, the Philippines ranks sixth in world shrimp production.

In Western Visayas, Negros Occidental has the highest shrimp production, records of Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in Region 6 showed.

Themed “Sustainable Shrimp Industry: Unified Direction Towards Production and Growth,” the three-day event gathers thousands of industry stakeholders from both public and private sectors in the country.

Philippine Shrimp Industry Inc. president, Roberto Gatuslao, said the congress is a caravan of knowledge positioned to convey the latest technological innovation that can positively influence production.

Source: Philippine News Agency
Philippines To Export Shrimps, Bananas To Russia Under President Duterte Philippines To Export Shrimps, Bananas To Russia Under President Duterte Reviewed by Yen on November 18, 2017 Rating: 5

No comments

Post AD