Toronto, Ontario Aug 17, 2018 (Issuewire.com) - The Philippine Department of Trade and Industry, represented by the Trade Office of the Philippine Consulate General – Toronto is proud to announce its integrated export and investment promotion program in the Canadian market for the Philippine Coconut Industry.
The Office aims to raise the profile of the Philippine coconut and makapuno industries as key areas for export and investment through three major events: the 5th Annual Coconut Festival, Superfoods Expo and Marketplace”, the “Makapuno Breakthrough Project Launch and Trade Forum”, and the Philippine Chamber of Commerce of Toronto (PCCT) – organized “Tree to Life: Benefit Cocktail and Dinner”.
The coconut tree is known by many as the “Tree of Life” as each of its parts have versatile uses and applications to sustain life – from being a healthy source of food to its use as chemicals and building materials or in health and wellness. This name takes on a greater meaning in the Philippines, where the coconut industry provides a livelihood for one-third of the country’s population, according to data from the Philippine Coconut Authority.
The Coconut, in all its forms and uses, is consistently among the top exports of the Philippines to Canada. In 2016, the Philippines exported CAD 37 million of coconut oil to Canada, which made up 44% of total Canadian imports of the product, according to the Canadian Importers Database. Exports of processed coconut food products have continued to show significant growth, reinforcing its place among the priority products for export promotion of the Philippines to Canada.
Canada’s 5th Annual Coconut Festival, Superfoods Expo and Marketplace will be held on August 25 – 26, 2018 at David Pecaut Square, Toronto (www.coconutfestival.ca). The Festival is a truly multicultural event that aims to connect all communities to highlight the various health benefits and the diverse culinary and lifestyles uses of coconut and other superfoods. The Festival also features community organizations representing different countries from the Asia-Pacific, South America, the Caribbean, and Africa, through food, handicrafts, and cultural shows.
This year’s Festival featured a Philippine Pavilion, featuring ten (10) food and non-food small and medium enterprises (SMEs) from the Philippines. The Pavilion will showcase a variety of high-quality artisanal products from Philippine delicacies and innovative coconut food products to home décor and fashion accessories made with indigenous materials.
The Philippine Trade Office also hopes to introduce the “Philippine Makapuno” as a trademarked brand through the “Makapuno Breakthrough Project Launch and Trade Forum” that will be held on August 27, 2018, at the Ontario Trade and Investment Centre.
“Philippine Makapuno”, a rare variant of coconut occurs normally in 1 out of 100 coconut fruits, possesses unique characteristics that make it suitable for various food and non-food applications. Through groundbreaking embryo-culture technology pioneered by Dr. Emerita de Guzman of the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), the Philippine Department of Science and Technology and the Philippine Coconut Research and Development Foundation have discovered a way to grow makapuno trees that will yield 99.99% makapuno fruit.
The Trade Forum will be marked by the launch of the “Philippine Makapuno Industry and Agribusiness Investment Promotion Program” which aims to reach out to overseas Filipinos to develop the fifth-class Philippine municipality of Alabat Island, Quezon into a Makapuno Economy. An initial 50 hectares of land will be planted with makapuno trees , giving the industry a critical boost to fill the demand gap for the rare fruit in 5 years.
A Memorandum of Understanding among the Philippine Chamber of Commerce-Toronto (PCCT), the Philippine Coconut Research and Development Foundation (PCRDF), Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) and the Local Government Unit (LGU)-Alabat will commemorate their partnership towards the project and its commitment to the development of the Philippine makapuno industry.
“The Philippine Department of Trade and Industry is thrilled to be launching a breakthrough model for diaspora investing,” Senior Trade Commissioner Maria Roseni M. Alvero remarks. “This is a program that will help improve the economic conditions at the grassroots level, targeting farmers and micro, small, and medium entrepreneurs. Overseas Filipinos will be able to contribute to inclusive, sustainable growth while investing in a project where trust and accountability of management are well defined, instead of sending money back home with no viable returns expected.”
Following the Trade Forum, the Philippine Chamber of Commerce-Toronto (PCCT) will be hosting "Tree to Life", a benefit cocktail and dinner showcasing coconut as the star ingredient to kickstart the Makapuno Project and raise money for 100 makapuno trees in Alabat Island in ISLAS Filipino BBQ and Bar. H.E. Petronila P. Garcia, the Philippine Ambassador to Canada, will be a special guest at the event.
A high-value crop such as makapuno will empower the farmers of Alabat Island – 54% of whom live below the poverty threshold – to be agri-entrepreneurs. Through investments, the program will plant 50 hectares of 5,000 makapuno trees in the next five years – uplifting the lives of over 3,000 households in the municipality.
For inquiries regarding these events, please contact the Philippine Trade Office at (416) 855-1775 or at toronto@dti.gov.ph.
Media Contact
Canada's Coconut Festival / 9246606 Canada Center julian@coconutfestival.ca 647-966-2375 1 Yonge St. Suite 1801,Toronto, ON M5E 1W7Canada http://www.coconutfestival.ca
