Middle East market opens up to Mindanao bananas — DTI

Trade negotiators and a multi-sectoral export promotion team were able to convince buyers in several Middle East countries to import 3.36 million boxes of Philippine bananas, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said Tuesday.   "We cannot immediately replace what was lost with China, but this is a good start already. We're expecting for follow-up bookings within the next few weeks," DTI director Senen Perlada said.   Perlada led the Philippine delegation that had just returned from a business matching mission in Dubai.   Also in the delegation were representatives of the Department of Agriculture, the Philippine Banana Growers and Exporters Associations, and the Mindanao Banana Growers and Exporters Association.   They met fresh fruit buyers from Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.  The DTI said the buyers had access to 80 t0 90 percent of the Middle East market.   Perlada said the Philippines’ fresh fruit exporters are also eyeing other international markets.   "It is highly possible to compete heads on with the multinationals in Europe. The rising wave of new institutional buyers that has no business ties in Latin America will make this possible. These developments are potentially game-changing for our local banana growers and exporters," said Perlada.   As soon as August, a Dutch firm is expected to send representatives to visit Mindanao banana plantations and processing facilities with an eye on a purchase and supply agreement.   Other European companies, including one from Belgium and another from Italy, also indicated that they will conduct ocular inspection visits before the year is out, the DTI said. — ELR, GMA News