Amersfoort, Netherlands, 30 June 2023: In an effort to bolster economic cooperation and establish the Philippines as an attractive investment destination for European enterprises, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Alfredo Pascual visited Royal FrieslandCampina’s (RFC) innovation center in the Netherlands as part of his European trip to promote the Philippines as an ideal business hub.
Secretary Pascual’s visit to the Innovation Center marked a significant milestone in the Philippines’ pursuit of fostering closer ties with European partners. Recognizing the potential for collaboration and innovation, Secretary Pascual and his team eagerly explored the state-of-the-art facilities and engaged in fruitful discussions with RFC’s global leaders.
“The Philippines’ commitment to creating a conducive environment for foreign investors, highlights the country’s strategic location, skilled workforce, and robust economic growth. With its thriving business ecosystem and vibrant startup culture, the Philippines stands poised to become the gateway for European enterprises seeking to expand into Southeast Asia,” said Sec. Pascual.
RFC, with its rich history and global reputation as a leader in the dairy industry, represents an ideal partner for the Philippines especially that food and nutrition security is an important part of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.’s 8-point agenda. The Innovation Center showcased cutting-edge technologies on dairy, sustainable farming practices, and innovative product development strategies. The exchange of ideas and best practices is expected to open doors to mutually beneficial collaborations between RFC and Filipino businesses citing Alaska Milk Corporation (AMC) being one of RFC’s operating companies in the Philippines as an example.
“I am so happy that Secretary Pascual is there in the Netherlands and thankful for taking his time out to visit our Innovation Center to understand our capabilities as FrieslandCampina with Alaska Milk Corporation as being the conduit here in the Philippines. It would be great that we connect together and see how the capability of Philippines can contribute to food security and in lessening the malnutrition in the country,” said AMC Managing Director Tarang Gupta.
To better the lives of farmers, RFC established Dairy Development. Through Dairy Development, RFC provides capacity-building programs for farmers to improve the quality and yield of their milk, making their farms more sustainable, and gaining access to the market. Last year, AMC together with the University of the Philippines Los Baños – Dairy Training and Research Institute (UPLB-DTRI) and the National Dairy Authority (NDA) established the Philippine-Netherlands Dairy Excellence Center (PNDEC) in partnership with the Dutch Embassy in Manila and CRV, a dutch genetics solutions company, to uplift the lives of Filipino dairy farmers through capacity-building programs. This is RFC and AMC’s contribution to food and nutrition security in the Philippines.
As Secretary Pascual concluded his visit to the Innovation Center, he expressed his gratitude to RFC and AMC for its contribution to food/nutrition security in the Philippines and committed to supporting its programs.
DTI remains committed to creating a business-friendly environment and facilitating sustainable economic development. Both parties look forward to exploring future opportunities and engaging in mutually-beneficial partnerships that will contribute to the growth and prosperity of both countries.