THAILAND MAKES NINE: ASEAN BAC Thailand became the ninth to sign the
Memorandum of Understanding to a region-wide private sector-led agriculture-MSME Development plan initiated in the Philippines. Present for ABAC
Thailand were (seated, from left) Vathit Chokwatana, Visit Limlurcha, Kobsak
Duangdee, with ASEAN BAC Philippines Chair Joey Concepcion, Go Negosyo
Senior Adviser Dr. William Dar, and ABAC Philippines’s George Barcelon and
Michael Tan. On hand to witness and to reaffirm the commitment of the council
chairs to pursue the objectives of the MOU were (standing, from left) Thanongsinh Kanlagna (Laos), Moe Kyaw (Myanmar), Dr. Robert Yap (Singapore), Oudet
Souvannavong (Laos), Chanthachone Vongsay (Laos), Jukhee Hong (Malaysia), and ASEAN BAC Executive Director Gil Gonzales
followed by the ABACs of Brunei, Cambodia, Singapore,
Laos, Myanmar, and Indonesia, who all signed last September in time to coincide with the ASEAN Business Investment Summit, with Philippines President Ferdinand
Marcos Jr. and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet as
witnesses.
The MOUs covered the exploration of joint partnerships in knowledge and
technology development;
trade and investment opportunities; research and
development; and strategies in sustainable agriculture, among others.
The agri-MSME development partnerships are
patterned after Go Negosyo’s Kapatid Angat Lahat
sa Agri Program (KALAP)
which aims to integrate
small farmers into the
value chain of large agri
companies, also called
“big-brother companies”
under the KALAP program. Concepcion is also
the founder of Go Negosyo.
During the meetings in Laos, it was also
decided that the Philippines should chair the
technical working group
on Food Security of ASEAN BAC in 2024.
An initial trade
mission has been tentatively scheduled this April
23 and 24, coinciding with
the 100th ABAC meeting
on April 25 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to facilitate
engagement between key
industry players from the
Philippines and Malaysia,
as part of the MOU implementation. The objective is to explore collaborative opportunities and
exchange best practices
in sectors including oil
palm, rubber, rice, dairy,
poultry, pineapples, durian, banana, coconut, and
corn, and generate mutual commercial benefits
for both parties. Following
suit, other ASEAN BAC
member countries who
have endorsed the MOU
will also embark on similar
trade missions. PR
