The Department of Agriculture – Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service (DA-AMAS) formulated and will spearhead a project called ASPIRE (Agribusiness Support for Promotion and Investment In Regional Expositions) in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry, a government agency and the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), the country’s largest business organization and “Voice of Philippine Business, have recently signed a memorandum of agreement to promote cooperation and partnership for a dynamic market development support services to farmers, fisher folk, MSMEs and other stakeholders.
The MOA was signed by no other than the Secretary of Agriculture, Hon. Emmanuel F. Pinol, Secretary of Department of Trade and Industry, Hon. Ramon M. Lopez and PCCI president George T. Barcelon last June 14, 2017. Under the MOA and through the Project ASPIRE all the parties recognize the need to optimize benefits from trade fair being a strategic platform for the promotion of agri-based Philippine products, enterprise development and agribusiness investments in the countryside and networking venue for agri-entrepreneurs and will work, build and to further enhance existing partnerships and convergence through cooperation in trade investment and economic development with other government and private sector industry groups.
Other components of the ASPIRE program which all the parties will encourage, promote and facilitate the exchange of missions, participate and organize trade fairs, exhibitions, conferences, and seminars on capability building, mentoring, coaching and facilitating provision of other service assistance e.g. packaging, labeling, logistics, etc.
In 2017, the pilot implementation of regional trade fair under the program will be undertaken on the following selected regions; DA RFOs CAR, 3, 5, 6, and 12. All other covered regions will be on 2018.
