TRADE MISSION. US Embassy in Manila’s Senior Counselor Paul Taylor (seated, third from left) and BCIU senior proram officer Joseph Walters (seated, fourth from left) join executives of US-based agriculture technology companies in a press conference at Grand Hyatt Manila in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City on October 2, 2023. The delegation is holding business mission in Manila and Davao until Oct.4. (Photo courtesy of US Embassy in Manila)
MANILA – Alabama-based broiler breeder Aviagen, Inc. is exploring to establish its operations in the Philippines, its Asia Pacific business manager Rafael Monleon said.
At a press conference of the United States Embassy in Taguig City Monday evening, Monleon said the company is looking into expanding its distribution network in the Philippines by establishing its own operation in the country.
“We already have established customers here and they distribute our products. However, the availability and the supply of our products are insufficient,” he said.
Monleon added that having its own operation here will address the gap in supply in the local market.
“We are looking perhaps, establishing our own operations so we could add capacity and volume into the market for broiler breeding stock,” he said. “The Philippine industry is very vibrant. Poultry industry is growing well... and there is a demand for quality grown stock, which our company specializes (in).”
Monleon said the company has yet to come up with the timeline of its investment plan in the Philippines, as Aviagen is still doing the feasibility study for the market.
Trade mission
Aviagen is one of the 10 US agriculture technology companies that will be holding trade missions in Manila and Davao City from Sept. 28 to Oct. 4.
US Embassy in Manila’s Senior Counselor Paul Taylor said in the same media event that the business mission aims to help the US private sector in contributing to the economic activity in the Philippines.
The US Embassy has partnered with the Business Council for International Understanding (BCIU) for the agritech mission here.
“Some of the successes that came out immediately were opportunities to connect with senior decision-makers in (the) regional agriculture office in Davao. We met with officials with BARMM (Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao) which is a very high priority for this mission to reach out to BARMM and identify the opportunity for the US to bringing technology that can improve agricultural outcomes in BARMM,” Taylor said.
“There was an opportunity to address a challenge here which is building capacity and finding solutions for food security,” BCIU senior program officer Joseph Walters added.
Among the US firms that joined the trade mission were A John Deere Tractor Co., Archer Daniels Midland, Aviagen, Cargill, PepsiCo, Sukup Manufacturing, Valmont Industries, Veea, Inc., Viasat, and Northwest Missouri State University.
Top 10 markets
During the reception for the delegation hosted by US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson, the envoy said the Philippines is one of the top 10 markets for US agricultural exports.
“In 2022, for example, our bilateral trade in agricultural products exceeded USD4 billion,” Carlson said.
“The agricultural technology trade mission injects innovation into this relationship, vastly expanding opportunities for Filipino farmers by connecting them to US technology solutions,” she said.
The envoy added the technology solutions of these US companies will contribute to the Philippines’ goal of food security. (PNA)
