DAVAO CITY—A business and trade mission has been firmed up next week for Papua New Guinea following a meeting with the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) and a PNG envoy here.
The Mindanao trade and business mission was slated from September 3 to 5, according to a MinDA statement issued on Wednesday.
The mission was finalized by MinDA Secretary Emmanuel Piñol, and PNG Ambassador to the Philippines Betty Palaso and Vice Minister Manasseh Makiba “for potential export of Mindanao premium rice and other areas of partnerships.”
“I invited our friends from Papua New Guinea because one of the first projects that we will undertake is to initially export premium Mindanao rice to Papua New Guinea,” Piñol said during his assumption of office as MinDA secretary last week.
Piñol added that he was also looking at Solomon Islands and Singapore as country destinations of Mindanao’s high-quality premium rice from Banaybanay in Davao Oriental, North Cotabato, Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga Sibugay.
“We aim to open potential trade link between Mindanao and Papua New Guinea through our quality rice and other premium agricultural products,” according to Piñol, who previously served as agriculture secretary.
Piñol said the trade mission would include an investment forum and business-to-business networking with PNG’s key private sector players.
“Possible importation of timber from Papua New Guinea to Mindanao is also another discussion during the mission to cater the needs of Mindanao construction and real-estate industries,” the MinDA said.
Aside from timber, Mindanao sources out tuna and other fishery products in the area, the MinDA added.
Some Mindanao vegetables and poultry products were included in the list of Piñol’s priority agri-products to be exported to Papua New Guinea.
MinDA said the trade mission was one of the international business roadshows to be conducted with other national agencies to promote Mindanao’s economic potentials in the larger international market.
“MinDA will also eye the possibility of spearheading establishment of a direct flight between Davao and Port Morseby, Papua New Guinea, as one of the agenda in the mission once trade link materializes and [found to be] sustainable,” Piñol said.