Foreign investors show interest in Ilocos Norte’s business potentials

ILOCOS NORTE MEANS BUSINESS. Michael Raeuber, president of the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, commends the upbeat economic mood in Ilocos Norte while sharing insights for better investment prospects. (Herdz Yumul)

By Leilanie G. Adriano

Staff Reporter

EIGHT representatives from the joint Foreign Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines were in Ilocos Norte on May 16 to explore Ilocos Norte’s potential for investment. 

As Ilocos Norte has shown readiness to welcome foreign investment, the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) along with the American, Canadian, British, Mexico and Korean chambers of commerce has expressed interest to partner with the provincial government in terms of logistics particularly in the fields of infrastructure development and in the possible export of fresh Ilocos mangoes and dragon fruit.

Michael Raeuber, ECCP president said serious talks on free trade agreement between Europe and the Philippines has started particularly on promoting Philippine products. 

“Europe matters as it is the biggest consumer market in the world,” said Mr. Raeuber citing that Ilocos Norte mangoes and dragon fruit are fantastic commodities, which may be exported to Europe. 

He said local authorities from Ilocos Norte may be interested to link farmer producers to partner with the European business sector and join hands in improving the packaging technology of perishable goods with short-term shelf life and reduce expense on air freight. 

“Your dragon fruit and mangoes are fantastic products. Probably we can aid in supply and logistics and packaging technology. Philippine mangoes are way better; I think they are the best in the world. The problem is short shelf life and expensive transportation cost. You cannot ship them in container; you have to ship them by air,” he said citing they had already talked with the Philippine Airlines, which has reactivated its flight to London. 

By coming up with competitive rates, Mr. Raeuber said saying they are now on the process of establishing contacts with potentials buyers in Germany, United Kingdom and Netherlands.

“Problem now is your fruit fly and short supply,” he stressed.

So far, Ilocos Norte has at least 100 hectares of dragon fruit plantation with 200 growers maintaining around 200,000 posts. Of the 200,000 posts, at least 60 percent are now on their fruiting stage. To be able to meet the demand of the export market, Mildred Dacuycuy of REFMAD Farms, the pioneering dragon fruit plantation in the region, hopes to produce at least 100 tons of harvest per month.

As to mango production, Ilocos Norte's mango king, Ricardo Tolentino, president of the Ilocos Norte Mango Growers Association said that about 100,000 mango trees are planted in Ilocos Norte, only 10 percent of the total production however is being exported to Japan and Hong Kong. Amidst the infestation of cecid flies, Tolentino said that Ilocos mango production this year in expected to increase by 40 percent due to a massive rehabilitation of mango trees, the Department of Agriculture and the Ilocos Norte government jointly funded last year.

Aside from these, Germany is also re-opening opportunities for Filipino nurses.

The Embassy of Mexico in the Philippines as represented by Trade Commissioner Christian Clay said that in two weeks, there will be a launching of the Philippines-Mexico Philippine-Mexico Business Council composed of at least 50 most important Filipino and Mexican companies and top two most important companies in Mexico will be expanding business in the country. 

“I will be talking to them to come to Ilocos Norte and explore the province potential for investment,” he assured Ilocanos will have a direct link with Mexican investors.   

Dubbed as “Arangkada Norte”, a five-minute digital presentation about Ilocos Norte’s major investment potentials were presented to the group at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan session hall. Also include was a discussion on the current state of Ilocos Norte tourism and the master plan,  medical tourism and retirement package, overseas Filipino remittances, dragon fruit agribusiness and the potentials of BPO-ICT companies. 

Ilocos Norte Governor Ma. Imelda “Imee” R. Marcos said Ilocos Norte is ready to welcome foreign investment in the province as proven by the mushrooming of infrastructure developments which is anchored on Ilocos Norte’s tourism master plan launched in 2011.

Over the years, the provincial government has set the pace in developing the province’s maximum potential. As a result, the province now has the lowest poverty rate incidence in the country as it went down by nine percent with an employment rate increase of 91 percent.

IMEE COURTS FOREIGN INVESTORS. On the invitation of Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos, leaders of foreign chambers of commerce from Europe, United States of America, Canada, Korea, and Mexico among others visited Ilocos Norte on May 15-17 to discuss investment opportunities in Ilocos Norte. (Herdz Yumul)