Belgian, Dutch envoys explore agri and export investments in Davao City

European investment in agriculture, food processing, research and export development is being explored in Davao City after Mayor Sebastian "Baste" Duterte held separate meetings on Tuesday with the ambassadors of Belgium and the Netherlands, according to Edge Davao.

The mayor received Belgian Ambassador Vladislava Iordanova and Dutch Ambassador Roderick Wols at Aria Hotel & Residences Davao, where he urged European businesses to look into the city's investment potential. The Davao City Investment and Promotion Center (DCIPC) said the talks centred on attracting foreign direct investment, boosting farm output, improving food processing and widening access to international markets.

Iordanova pointed to opportunities in banana and fruit processing, sustainable cacao production and agricultural research. She noted that around 400 Belgian nationals live in the area, alongside Belgian scholars and companies such as Puratos, which is involved in sustainable cacao initiatives. She also cited Belgium's research programmes on banana production as a possible source of knowledge-sharing and technology transfer, saying such cooperation could help local producers shift from raw commodities to higher-value goods for local and export markets.

Duterte said the city is committed to drawing investments that support long-term food security and create jobs.

In the meeting with the Dutch delegation, discussions covered foreign investment, land reform dynamics, agricultural modernisation and food security as possible areas for Dutch capital, the DCIPC said. Wols, on his first visit to Davao City, expressed positive impressions of its culture, environment and potential for export-oriented investment, and showed enthusiasm for promoting the city's opportunities in the Netherlands.

Duterte presented the city as a stable destination, citing more than three decades as an insurgency-free administrative centre, its quality of life, governance policies and business climate.

The DCIPC said partnerships in research, processing technology and modernisation could strengthen the whole value chain, from farmers to exporters. Both ambassadors were also scheduled to attend the Cacao Fiesta in Mati City, Davao Oriental.