By Alithea De Jesus
As what many economists said during the start of pandemic, agriculture will save our economy and provide not just livelihood but food security.
Cognizant of this forecast, the Department of Trade and Industry’s Philippine Trade and Investment Centers in Bangkok, Dubai, Jakarta, Jeddah, Kuala Lumpur, New Delhi, Singapore, and Sydney will hold the first episode of the Trabaho, Negosyo, Kabuhayan (TNK) webinar series on April 30 to provide overseas Filipinos (OFIs) with opportunities to invest in the Philippines and support the country’s economic recovery.
TNK is a DTI initiative that aims to promote entrepreneurship as a response to unemployment, job-seeking, and migration. The first episode of the four-part webinar series is dedicated to helping OFIs and returning OFs from ASEAN, Middle East, South Asia, and ANZ launch and grow their agribusiness ventures. Department of Agriculture Undersecretary Cheryl Marie Natividad-Caballero will discuss lucrative agribusiness opportunities to kick off the virtual event.
The agriculture sector showed resilience even during the height of the lockdowns. In Q2 2020, the sector expanded by 1.6%, bucking a downward trend that affected all other sectors.
Usec. Caballero will explain how overseas Filipinos can take advantage of this trend while contributing to the country’s food security efforts.
Agricultural Credit Policy Council Executive Director Jocelyn Badiola will go over the agency’s financial assistance programs designed to finance the livelihood activities of qualified entrepreneurs.
Lastly, Agricultural Training Institute Director Alfredo Aton will discuss the agency’s capacity building and training programs to equip agri-entrepreneurs with the tools they need to build and scale successful agri-enterprises.
DTI Secretary Ramon M. Lopez is set to deliver the opening remarks, while Usec. Ireneo V. Vizmonte will wrap up the webinar. The session will be hosted by PTIC-Kuala Lumpur commercial attaché Rosa Katrina V. Banzon.
The episode on agribusiness will be followed by sessions exploring Philippine-denominated investments, franchising opportunities, and the local startup ecosystem.
The TNK webinar series will run for the whole year and feature high-level speakers from the government and private sector as part of a dedicated effort to capacitate overseas Filipinos in key areas of entrepreneurship.
For more information about the TNK Webinar Series, follow the DTI-FTSC Facebook page.
