18/08/2015
for Bonut Business... would create more jobs in the rural areas...
The Philippines is being positioned to rank among the world’s top three largest exporters of coconut coir by 2016, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Undersecretary Merly Cruz said after the recently concluded National Coco Coir Summit was able to build a convergence among industry players and government agencies to push the targets set for the industry. Based on the industry plan, the following goals are set to be accomplished by 2016: $50 million in exports; P1.7 billion in domestic sales; P2 billion in investments; 200,000 farmers and 450 SMEs assisted; and 10,000 jobs created.
To achieve these targets, Cruz announced two new government programs that would support the industry. These are the Shared Service Facilities (SSF) of the DTI and Coco Tufting Facility of the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA). Currently, there are 30 identified SSFs in the various regions of the country. These programs are aimed to develop and expand domestic supply-base for coco coir; to strengthen access to domestic and export market information; to strengthen market linkage among actors within the value chain to support the targets. Cruz presented four business models for coir processing: community-based integrated processing; big-brother integrator (with decorticating plant and outsources twining to communities and serves as integrator); tufting facility as market consolidator of coco twines; and triple-armor application of coir in mining sites. She also mentioned a potential business model on the coco peat as high quality growing media produced through a completely controlled process.
Coco coir and peat have wide uses. These include: coir geotextile, coconets, coco fascines for domestic market in DPWH projects and mining sites and for export to China, US, and Asia; coir mattresses and rubberized coir for export and domestic markets; coir tufted mats for the domestic and export market in US, EU and Asia; coir twines and yarns for the domestic market as input to coco net weaving and tufting and for the export market in China, Asia, Europe and USA; and coco peat as a multi-purpose soil conditioner and growing medium for the European market and local nurseries, and landscaping. Source: ucap.org.ph/news-and-events/philippines-aims-for-top-coco-coir-exporter
