PCA Investment Forum Generates P4.3 Million in Initial Commitments

The Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) generated a total of P4.31 million in initial committed investments for the coconut industry through its recent investment forum. PCA administrator Benjamin Madrigal Jr. reported that 55 potential investors joined the agency’s recent 3-day investment forum on August 4 to 6. The forum was intended to increase coconut products exports and provide livelihood to coconut farmers.

It was also aimed at promoting the value addition of coconut products and increase awareness on possible investment prospects brought by new coconut processing technologies that are ready for commercialization.  Madrigal said, “With this forum, we will link our farmer organizations to investment and business opportunities, elevating them to become coconut farmer-entrepreneurs or “cocopreneurs”. 

Apart from the investment forum, the PCA also conducted business-to-business matching sessions, where 85 Philippine suppliers participated, to provide an opportunity for farmer organizations to bring Philippine coconut products to the global market.  Madrigal said the meetings resulted in 104 business matches, with at least nine foreign buyer countries expressing interest for Philippine coconut products.  These countries include France, Canada, China, Japan, Lithuania, South Korea, Switzerland, Taiwan, and the US.  A total of 25 buyers participated in the meetings, 10 of which were local buyers, while 15 were foreign buyers.