Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol (4th from left) with Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture and Food Congressman Jose Panganiban, Jr. (6th from left), Philippine Ambassador to Italy Domingo Nolasco, and Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Bayani Mercado, together with Italian investors and executives.

14 July 2017 ROME – Italian executives and businessmen attended a roundtable business meeting with Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol on July 06 at the Centro Congressi of Eataly in Rome, Italy, discussing investment opportunities in Philippine agriculture and fisheries.

The event was organized by the Philippine Embassy in Rome and the office of the Agriculture Attaché, in partnership with Confindustria, a major umbrella organization for Italian industries.

Joining the Secretary at the roundtable were Congressman Jose Panganiban, Jr., Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture and Food, Philippine Ambassador to Italy Domingo Nolasco, Agriculture Undersecretary Segfredo Serrano, and Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Bayani Mercado.

Secretary Piñol said that the Philippine agriculture and fisheries sector has been growing over the past year. He added that the development of agri-business and production of high value crops are part of the Philippine government’s comprehensive national industrial strategy. He also shared that businesses can invest in agriculture mechanization, packaging, refrigeration, silos, and research and development in the Philippines. He identified business opportunities in carrageenan, processed shrimp, processed meat, condiments, dried mango, cacao, coconut, and abaca.

The Secretary also outlined incentives for Italian businesses to setup manufacturing facilities for agricultural machineries in the Philippines, especially in Special Economic Zones. He added that the Philippine government would be able to find local partners for Italian business to make the establishment of business easier.

Among the businesses and chambers of commerce that sent representatives were the Italian Association of Machinery and Equipment for Production, Processing and Food Preservation; Federation of Italian Associations of Mechanical and Engineering; Italian Agricultural Machinery Manufacturers Federation; CNH Industrial; Italian Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Association; and ZANOTTI S.p.A. Representatives from the Italian Trade Agency and government financial institution SACE, an export-import bank also attended the roundtable meeting.

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