AMBASSADOR Sung Kim hosted a Thanksgiving celebration at the US Embassy in Manila on November 13 to showcase his country’s food commodities available in the Philippines.
In the event, visiting US Undersecretary of Agriculture for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Ted McKinney thanked customers in the Philippines for supporting US agriculture.
McKinney said, “From hotels and restaurants to franchise chains, food manufacturers and retail customers, Philippine buyers constantly demonstrate their awareness of the quality and variety of US food products.”
In 2017 export sales reached $964 million—up 4 percent from the previous year. Traders expect 2018 sales to surpass the $1-billion mark.
High-value food and beverage products remain the premier growth sector for US agriculture in the Philippines due to the country’s robust economy, steady expansion of the food sector and consumer familiarity with American brands.
While in the Philippines, McKinney met with Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol to discuss the strong and growing two-way agricultural trade relations between their countries.