KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 8 — The Philippines returns to the eighth Selangor International Expo (SIE) F&B 2022, this time showcasing its premium coconut products at its Coconut Pavilion at the expo from October 6 to 9.
The Philippines’ Coconut Pavilion was officiated by Philippine Ambassador to Malaysia Charles C. Jose on Thursday.
It featured 16 Philippine manufacturers and exporters of coconut (13 exhibitors), coffee (2 exhibitors), and cacao (1 exhibitor) products, said the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)’s Philippine Trade and Investment Centre in Kuala Lumpur (PTIC-KL) in a statement sent here, today.
This is also the first time these selected manufacturers and exporters are specially flown in by the DTI to participate in the expo, it said.
The Philippines’ Coconut Pavilion features virgin coconut oil (VCO), medium-chain triglycerides (MCT), and other high-value coconut products, catering to the increasing consumer demand for healthier food products.
“We proudly showcase premium Philippine coconut products at the Selangor International Expo – Food and Beverage 2022. With the many health benefits that coconut products provide, we are confident that these products will cater to the discerning taste of the Malaysians and certainly make a good impression in Malaysia.
“Based on the Export Potential Assessment undertaken by the International Trade Centre, the Philippines has the potential to increase its exports of coconuts by US$620.2 million, a positive outlook for the Philippine coconut industry,” Aabassador Jose said in the statement.
Selangor International Expo (F&B) is a key food and beverage trade exhibition focusing on the global food and beverage industry.
Coconut is the most consumed fruits by Malaysians in 2020, with a total consumption of 790 million kilogrammes, according to the statement.
Over US$1 billion in Philippine export earnings came from the coconut industry in 2019.
“The Philippines is the world’s leading exporter of coconut oil in 2019, making coconut one of the top agricultural export commodities. Coconut food products made up US$965 million of the Philippines’ exports in 2019,” it read.
The range of coconut food exports has changed throughout time, moving away from conventional coconut oil to include other higher-value items such as virgin coconut oil, coconut water, coconut milk, coconut chips, and coconut cream, among others.
This mission to the expo, which is spearheaded by DTI’s Export Marketing Bureau and PTIC-KL, is also in line with the Philippine government’s efforts to strengthen its coconut industry, it added.
Visitors are invited to visit the Philippine booths, located in Halls 1 and 2 of the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC), alongside Selangor International Business Summit 2022 and the 4th Selangor International Culinary Festival.
— Bernama
