27 June 2013 – The Philippine Embassy in Rome in cooperation with the Department of Agriculture (DA), the Office of the Special Agriculture Representative in Rome and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), successfully conducted the Agribusiness Investment Forum for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in Italy on June 16, with the Secretary of Agriculture, Engr. Proceso J. Alcala, as Keynote Speaker.

Secretary Alcala informed the participants of agribusiness prospects in the Philippines and encouraged them to invest in agriculture and fisheries.

Joining Secretary Alcala were high-level officials and technical experts from the Department of Agriculture namely, Executive Director Manuel Jarmin of the Livestock Development Council (LDC), Director Asis Perez of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), Assistant Director Jennifer Remoquillo of the Bureau of Plant Industry, and Ms. Nemelita Sungcaya, Division Chief of Agribusiness and Marketing Service (AMAS), who presented investment opportunities on crops, livestock and fisheries. They also conducted business counseling to interested participants after the event.

In his message, Philippine Ambassador to Italy Virgilio A. Reyes, Jr. highlighted the facts that (1) Rome is host to three important UN organizations such as the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD) and World Food Program (WFP), which principally discuss and implement policies/guidelines, of global impact, on food security, rural development and agriculture development – all of which are the Philippine Government’s core national interests; and (2) Italy is uniquely positioned as the country that hosts the most number of Filipinos in the Eurozone area, estimated at around 170,000, to date. The Ambassador stressed that these facts made Italy the best choice to promote agribusiness to Filipinos overseas.

A highlight of the event was the raffle to the Filipino community of five sets of goat and five sets of sheep (livestock category); five sets each of boat machines and bangus and tilapia fingerlings (fisheries category) and 10 sets of 100 seedlings (crops category).  

The activity was realized within the ambit of the Memorandum of Agreement signed in May 2013 between DOLE and DA. Aside from Rome, the agribusiness forum was also conducted in Milan and Turin on 20 and 23 June, respectively, in coordination with the Philippine Consulate General in Milan, with DOLE Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz also joining as one of the keynote speakers.

Those who are interested to learn about different agribusiness prospects in the Philippines but failed to attend the fora are requested to e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for copies of the presentation by the DA experts. END