By Veronica Uy
CLARK FREEPORT ZONE—The Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC) is eyeing an ₱8.5-billion modernized National Food Hub project at the civil aviation complex in Clark with the recent signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the CIAC and global food tech companies Food Starter Philippines, a subsidiary of the Singapore-based Food Starter Pte. Ltd., and World Food Chain Pte. Ltd.
“This most recent MOU advances our efforts to start developing a food hub ecosystem aggregator which will ensure sustainable food security solutions,” CIAC President Arrey Perez said.
Food Starter and World Food Chain are global sourcing and technology resource firms in food procurement. They have operations dealing with global agricultural financing and investments.
With Perez as signatories to the MOU are Jeremy Nathaniel Gohkongwei, chairperson and chief executive officer of the Food Security Pte. Ltd. and World Food Chain Pte. Ltd. group; Chief of Party Dr. Juanito Abaquin; Abdolrazagh Mohammadi, CEO of the Emirates International Holdings Group; and World Food Chain representatives Adam Cheng Tien Fook and Mark Joseph Perez.
“The partnership is the right move at the right time, as it guarantees modernization of the national food hub, and that we’ll be able to address key challenges in its operation, maintenance, and sustainability,” Perez added.
Perez said the ₱8.5-billion 62-hectare Clark National Food Hub project is set on replicating state-of-the-art agro-logistics system of food hubs in advanced Asian countries, raise the standards of food safety, and provide better opportunities for the local farmers, fisherfolk, and growers.
The CIAC chief added that the MOU will provide technical and advisory assistance on transport, trade and investment, warehousing and storage infrastructure development, and trade visits to strategic logistics hubs within members of the ASEAN.
Early this year, CIAC secured the nod from the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) for the project’s inclusion in the Public Investment Program for 2023 to 2028, along with the approval for its Project Development and Monitoring Facility application for project preparation and transaction advisory support with the Public Private Partnership Center (PPPC).
