Agripreneurs challenged to prepare for ASEAN integration in 2015

The Philippine agriculture sector is expected to benefit from the upcoming ASEAN economic community integration provided that the government and the agriculture sector players have sufficient preparations.

The country’s agriculture sector is currently not competitive compared to the markets of Indonesia, Vietnam and Thailand. Poor farm-to-market linkages, failure to modernize and specialize make the Philippines’ agricultural industry unable to cope with the ASEAN free market.

To help address these concerns, the 2nd Philippine Small and Medium Enterprise Business Expo (PhilSME) 2014 with the tagline “Boost Your Business” is conducting an SME Agri-Forum, a seminar designed to enhance knowledge and prepare agricultural entrepreneurs for success in the local and regional market place.

“It is imperative and urgent that our government and agri-businessmen must start working closely together as the Thais are doing. Believe me, I have not seen this. If we do not act soon, much of our agriculture will perish, poverty will increase, and we will have the opposite of the government-proclaimed goal of inclusive growth,” business tycoon Manuel Pangilinan said during the World Economic Forum.

The SME Agri-Forum will be held on the 2nd day of PhilSME 2014, November 22, at 5:00 pm and will feature business models, trends, threats and opportunities for the upcoming ASEAN integration in 2015 and equip the young agripreneurs to keep pace with the future of the agriculture industry.

Dr. Rolando Dy noted in his presentation during one of the previous general meetings of Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) that agriculture is significant in the rest of the agribusiness. The agribusiness chain contributes 35 to 40 percent of our gross domestic product (GDP). Agriculture contributes 12 percent, food manufacturing at 10 percent and agri-services at 13 to 18 percent.

“The ASEAN economic integration in 2015 will challenge our food supply industry. On a positive note, we can be a competitive player in this field – if we will focus on our natural advantage, that is being a nation with great agricultural resources,” shared Alan Paul Vargas, General Manager of Farmville Agricultural Source Team (FAST), a Filipino owned food service provider of fresh produce.

PhilSME 2014 will be held from November 21-23, 2014 at SMX Convention Center Manila, Pasay City. It is the country’s largest business to business exhibition, conference and networking events for small and medium enterprise (SME) business owners. It shall be the venue for small and medium businesses from the Philippines and the ASEAN region to build new relationships, help network with local and international decision makers, business owners, senior level executives and do business amongst SMEs and its supporters.

The event is supported by the Department of Trade and Industry – Bureau of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise Development, Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines, Philippine Export Import-Credit Agency, the Global Entrepreneurship Week, Philippine Software Industry Association, Supply Chain Management Association of the Philippines, Young Entrepreneurs Society Philippines, Filipino International Franchise Association and sponsored by Globe, United Asia Automotive Group Inc. (Foton Philippines), PLDT SME Nation, CuroTeknika Inc. and United Neon. –http://www.clickthecity.com/hot-off-the-press/a/23826/agripreneurs-challenged-to-prepare-for-asean-integration-in-2015

To BOOST YOUR BUSINESS towards success in an economically integrated world, register at www.philsme.com or call +63.2.509.4792. Stay connected with the small and medium business community via Facebook: www.facebook.com/PhilippineSMEBusinessExpo and twitter: www.twitter.com/PhilSMEexpo.