FRUIT SPREAD US Ambassador MaryKay Carlson tries fresh “buko” juice and pomelo at a Kadayawan Festival fruit booth in Davao City during her visit last week. —PHOTO COURTESY OF US EMBASSY IN THE PHILIPPINES
DAVAO CITY — As part of the US government’s commitment to deepen economic ties with the country, a trade mission is due here next month to explore investment opportunities in agriculture in Mindanao.
The mission will include about eight “big names” in American agribusiness, among them John Deere and Cargill, that will be looking into the prospects for “precision agriculture,” said US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson.
Carlson was in the city for two days recently for various public engagements held in time for the 38th Kadayawan Festival. She also had separate meetings with Mayor Sebastian Duterte and Vice President Sara Duterte.
“Agriculture is the strength of this region. There’s a lot we can do in this area,” noted Carlson, describing the Davao region as “the orchard of the Philippines” given its rich potentials for crop farming.
Cavendish banana is Davao region’s major crop, which is produced for export to Japan, China, South Korea and the Middle East. The crop is also cultivated in the provinces of Bukidnon, Lanao del Sur, Cotabato and Maguindanao.
Food security
Pineapple is also another crop of high-value mainly produced in Mindanao, particularly in Bukidnon and Lanao del Sur, and has recently expanded to Misamis Oriental.
“Mindanao has a lot to offer. You have such a great advantage here when it comes to agriculture,” Carlson said.
The trade mission, according to her, will have stops in Davao and Manila.
The development of agriculture is of common interest to both the United States and the Philippines, Carlson said, given that both President Marcos and US President Joe Biden have clearly outlined “the importance of food security” in their respective agendas of government.
Apart from agriculture, the technology sector may also be another bright spot that American investors may look into in Davao, Carlson said.
“The sky’s the limit when it comes to our partnership,” Carlson added.
According to the ambassador, bilateral trade between the country and the US hit a record high last year at $33 billion.
She underscored the importance of making economic development inclusive so that it supports the government’s efforts of building peace in Mindanao.
“When people have a stake in the system, they have a stake in [maintaining] peace,” she pointed out.
The sustainability of investor interests in Mindanao, and in the country in general, according to her, will hinge on “transparency and predictability, which means good governance.”
“When processes are clear and transparent, it facilitates investment,” she said.
In achieving good governance, Carlson emphasized the crucial role of a free and independent press in “keeping the government on its toes so that they provide the services that are important.”
This is why the US government is taking the effort to “shine a light on press freedom” in the country, she said.