Maniolas

The upcoming integration of the Asean Economic Community or AEC beginning December this year is expected to open new and bigger markets and opportunities for Philippine business, but the big question is, are we ready? According to a study conducted by real estate consulting firm Pinnacle, it would seem so. Leading the pack is the local real estate industry, which is investing huge amounts of money in expectation of a bigger demand ahead. Pinnacle noted that the Ayala Land Group is leading the way by increasing its capital expenditure budget to P100 billion this year as compared to only P70 billion last year, or a 43 percent increase. Apart from increasing its usual residential developments, the Ayala Group is also boosting its office, shopping center, and hotel portfolio. It is even embarking on education and hospitals, if I may add. SM Prime meanwhile has disclosed a capex budget for 2015 of P66 billion to open more shopping malls, residential projects, office buildings, and hotels. The SM Group, aside from its malls and condominiums, is also increasing its hotel business. It currently has four hotels and it is targeting to open its Park Inn by Radisson in Clark, Pampanga and Conrad Hotel Manila at the Mall of Asia by the fourth quarter of this year. The study also mentioned the Megaworld Group, which is targeting to invest more than P230 billion until 2018. The group is sustaining its township developments and together with subsidiaries Suntrust Properties, Empire East, and Global Estate Read More …

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)  is encouraging small and medium enterprises (SMEs)  to improve the quality of their products and comply with higher standards to become more competitive locally and overseas. In a statement yesterday, the DTI said the  participation  of SMEs in Sikat Pinoy fairs is one way for these businesses to become familiar with superior product standards. “Aside from exposing SMEs to national buyers or large companies to get big orders, we expose them to the products of the other enterprises,” DTI Secretary Gregory Domingo said. Late last month, the DTI held the Sikat Pinoy National Food Fair which showcased food products from all over the country. The fair had 150 exhibitors and featured various products such as meat; fish; processed fruits and vegetables; ingredients, sauces, and condiments; wines and beverages; coffee, tea, and cocoa; bakery products; snacks and confectionaries; organic, herbal and natural products; and food supplements and vitamins. Bureau of Domestic Trade Promotion Director Rhodora Leaño said the department has imposed stringent requirements for Sikat Pinoy exhibitors. Big institutional buyers attending the fair, she noted, have set strict  requirements for their suppliers. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 “One of the basic requirements that they (institutional buyers) are seeking from suppliers is the fact that they must have a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) registration. They can be appeased if the supplier has at least filed an application with FDA,” she said. Aside from supplying to institutional buyers, Read More …

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines is looking at opportunities to provide products and services that cater to the halal market in line with the objective of attracting more tourists here. In a statement yesterday, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said it is exploring opportunities in the halal market. During the 8th World Halal Conference (WHC) 2015 and 11th Malaysia International Halal Showcase (MIHAS) held in Kuala Lumpur last week, Prudencio Reyes, Jr. who serves as undersecretary at the DTI and senior official for the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East AseanGrowth Area (BIMP-EAGA) attended the event to learn about opportunities available for the country. The WHC is an annual event organized by the Halal Industry Development Corp. It focuses on the overall development of the halal industry in Malaysia, while the MIHAS is an internationally recognized exhibition of halal products and services conducted by the Malaysia External Trade Development Corp. Halal is the prescribed process of product preparation based on Islamic law. To be considered halal, products and services need to be certified by halal certification agencies. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1  “This is a great opportunity for the Philippines to enter the billion-dollar halal industry. Mindanao could be a potential producer of tuna, sardines, banana, coconut, fruits and most especially poultry and livestock products due to its advantage as bird flu and FMD (foot-and-mouth disease) free island in the country as well as in the BIMP-EAGA,” Reyes said. Tapping the halal market will not only provide livelihood Read More …

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Agriculture is working on the details of a technical cooperation agreement on food and agriculture with the Kingdom of Cambodia. Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala, who met recently with Cambodian Agriculture Minister Ouk Rabun in Phnom Penh, said the agreement would promote technical cooperation and information exchange in food and agriculture. A technical working group is being formed to flesh out the details of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) that would be signed this year. “Creating more robust alliances with our counterparts in Cambodia and other Southeast Asian neighbors is high on the Department of Agriculture’s agenda, as it is both timely and necessary towards achieving national food security and inclusive socio-economic progress in an era of an integrated ASEAN community,” said Alcala. The ASEAN economy, which would be fully integrated this year, offers  numerous opportunities for increased agri-fishery trade and investments, he noted.  “The job of the department is to provide and facilitate the needed resources, policies and linkages to turn these bright prospects into reality,” he said. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 Cambodia is among the countries that have rice procurement agreements with the Philippines along with Vietnam and Thailand. This means that these are the only countries qualified to supply the government with rice under a government-to-government procurement scheme. Alcala said his meeting with Rabun allowed both countries to re-affirm their shared commitment to push for closer relations. Alcala likewise reiterated DA’s invitation to the Cambodian official to Read More …