Philippines sees potential agriculture investment of up to US$100 million
Coffee and seaweed drew a combined 50 per cent of investment pledges following a forum in Rome, an agriculture official said.
International financial institutions and private partners could invest up to US$100 million in the Philippines’ agricultural value chain following a Rome investment forum, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said.
Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa represented the DA at the Hand-in-Hand investment forum, where the agency put forward 27 proposals. He told reporters that officials held about 12 bilateral meetings. Coffee and seaweed attracted some of the largest pledges, together representing 50 per cent of the total, he said.
The DA’s initial target was US$57.4 million in private investment. It also sought to demonstrate export opportunities for Philippine high-value crops, with proposals spanning coffee, seaweed, mango, jackfruit and cocoa.
In the original proposals, around US$26.4 million was earmarked for coffee, while seaweed had US$24.8 million. The remaining US$6.2 million covered products such as mango, jackfruit and cocoa, with investment directed towards processing improvements, machinery and other value-added components.
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Asian Development Bank worked with the DA to develop the portfolio. The FAO put the average projected internal rate of return for the Philippine investment profile at 24.6 per cent.
Hand-in-Hand is an FAO programme intended to transform agrifood systems, help farmers reach markets, improve rural livelihoods and build climate resilience.
