BUSAN, 19 February 2017 ? The Embassy fo the Philippines held on Sunday, 19 February 2017 a daylong investment forum for prospective entrepreneurs in the farming and fisheries sector at the Busan Exhibition and Convention Center (BEXCO) in Korea's second biggest city for the first time this year.

The Agri-Fisheries Investment Forum, which was organized by the Philippine Agriculture Office (PAO) in Seoul, together with the Philippine Overseas labor Office (POLO) and Land Bank of the Philippines, featured specialists mainly from agencies affiliated with the Department of Agriculture (DA) before an audience of 150 Filipino residents.

Philippine Honorary Consul General in Busan Dr. Sang-wook An, representing Ambassador Raul S. Hernandez, delivered opening remarks and emphasized the necessity to promote OFWs entrepreneurial undertakings responsive to their need as part of the reintegration program of the government.

The fourth such forum in a series that starte last year follows the success of the AgriForum held on 11 December 2016 in Seoul in providing information to overseas Filipinos looking to invest their earnings in Korea into the country's agricultural and fisheries sector as a way of facilitating their eventual return to the Philippines.

The speakers from the DA, Philippine Carabao Center, Bureau of Plant Industry, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic resources, who were led by Administrator Billy Andal of the Philippine Coconut Authority, made presentations about livestock raising, high value crops, aquaculture and coconut production, agri-related business and investment opportunities, among others, said Agriculture Analyst Aleli Maghirang.

Landbank presented financing facilities to participants interested in investing in the projects offered during the seminar.

Organizing agribusiness investment forums for overseas Filipino workers is one of the Embassy's priority activities supportive of DA's goal of giving farmers, fishing communities and other agriculture and fisheries stakeholders easy access to financing and investment opportunities.


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