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Philippine food companies are eyeing to take home
more than twofold the amount of orders from international buyers in
the Taipei International Food Show held this month, which this year
was joined by some of the country‘s food giants.
According to the Manila Economic
and Cultural Office (MECO), local food companies bagged $8-million
to $10-million worth of orders, compared with the previous year’s
$4.1-million worth of orders during the annual event. The Taipei
International Food Show (Food Taipei) is one of the region’s
biggest food industry events.
MECO had expected an increase in
orders for Philippine-made food products at this year’s Food
Taipei since the participation of industry heavyweights, including
San Miguel, RFM, Universal Robina and Dole Asia.
MECO is bullish on the growth of
local value-added food product exports, said Antonio Basilio, MECO
managing director and resident representative, especially due to
higher demand from booming markets such as Taiwan. The Philippines
has the capacity to supply the affluent and discerning Taiwanese
market with premium food products, from fresh and processed seafood
to top-quality processed fruits, Basilio added.
According to Nicanor Bautista,
MECO deputy director for commercial affairs, said the participation
of the bigger food companies is significant since the local food
industry is targeting Taiwan’s booming market for processed meat
products.
--Ben Arnold de Vera
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