Singaporean companies are interested in Mindanao agricultural products

According to Arturo Milan, PCCI's area vice president for Mindanao, the recently concluded Mindanao Business Mission in Singapore introduced Mindanao products that Singaporeans could invest in and possibly import from the Philippines.

Following the business mission, a Singaporean trader agreed to purchase two 140-foot containers of Mindanao pineapple and papaya as an initial trade to demonstrate the quality of Mindanao agriculture products.

“For the first time, we are starting to export our pineapple and papaya to Singapore... I hope magpadayon na ni kasi (it continues because) we were there in 2019 but because of the pandemic, karon ra gyod ni siya nasundan (we were not able to follow through),” Milan said dring the Wednesdays at Habi at Kape on August 17, 2022.

He stated that they hope that this initial export will kickstart the two countries' trade partnership and pave the way for more product varieties to be exported.

“That is an opening for us. When we talk of the Philippines, Mindanao gyod ilang ginatanaw na (they are looking at Mindanao as a) potential area to source their food supply,” Milan said.

Apart from pineapple and papaya, Singaporean businessmen are interested in importing mango, cavendish bananas, vegetables, and poultry.

Milan stated that Singaporeans are interested in high-value crops such as coffee and cacao, but that production for these crops must increase to meet export market demand.

“Dapat kasi ma-satisfy natin ang (We have to satisfy the) domestic demand before going into the export market. Yun ang kailangan natin tingnan ng mabuti para ma-develop rin ang crops natin in Mindanao (That’s what we also have to look into so we can also develop our crops here),” he said.

Milan said Singapore is most interested in agriculture products since the country prioritizes food supply and food security.

“As you know, Singapore buys 96 percent of their food requirements. Wala sila agriculture, wala sila yuta so almost all imported (They do not have agricultural lands so almost all of it is imported),” he said.