October 8, 2007

India looks to Philippines for meat, dairy trade opportunities

Meat and dairy exporters from India are upbeat with the offer of the Philippine president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to import more dairy products and meat. Producers are also firming up their investment proposals at the call of the President Arroyo.

India exports about 1.7 million tonnes skimmed milk power and 1.50 million tonnes buffalo meat to the Philippines annually.

Macapagal-Arroyo had led a 47-member delegation to India last week consisting of top businessmen and senior officials.

Philippine agriculture secretary Arthur Yap said that his country would also prefer to import buffalo and genetic material from India to strengthen the animal breed for meat and dairy purposes. An agreement to this effect has been signed with the Indian government, he said. Yap also invited the Indian industry to set up dairy and meat processing units in the Philippines.

Philippines Energy department chief Angelo Reyes said the country would like to replicate India's biofuel and bio-ethanol programme as AR Palani Swanny, managing director of Rusni Distilleries, said that they have developed the technology of extracting ethanol from sweet sorghum and are planning an investment in the Philippines.

India's exports to the Philippines are about US$400.85 million, while imports are about US$119.46 million.