MALUGOD na tinanggap ni Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. ang plano ng Thailand conglomerate Charoen Pokphand Group (CP Group) na mamuhunan ng USD2.5 billion (P140.8 billion) sa Pilipinas para palakasin ang sektor ng agrikultura.
Tinalakay ang investment pledge nang makipagpulong si Pangulong Marcos sa mga opisyal ng CP Group, pinangunahan ni chairman Soopakij Chearavanont, sa Palasyo ng Malakanyang.
Sinabi ni Communication Secretary Cheloy Garafil na ang expansion plans ng CP Group ay may kinalaman sa paggamit ng bagong teknolohiya, sakop ang babuyan (USD1.3 billion), manukan (USD280 million), shrimp (USD800 million), at pagkain (USD120 million).
Sa nasabing pulong, winika ng Pangulo na layon ng CP Group na magbitbit ng “state-of-the-art” technology sa bansa na gagayahin ng Pilipinas.
“We’re very impressed with the new technologies that you use. I remember you told me that each plant farm you build is different from the last one because you immediately incorporate and adopt new techniques in technology,” ang sinabi ni Pangulong Marcos sa CP Group executives, ayon kay sa Presidential Communications Office (PCO).
“Learning new things and applying new things, that’s the only way I think to compete as well. CP Group has done so well… to be a state-of-the-art company,” ayon pa rin kay Garafil.
Sa naturang pulong pa rin, nagpasaklolo ang CP Group sa administrasyong Marcos na maghanap ng angkop na lupain sakop ang 400 ektarya ng aquaculture (hipon) at 300 ektarya para sa baboy at manok kabilang na itlog.
Nais din ng grupo na gumamit ng makabagong teknolohiya upang matupad ang “whole upstream at downstream raw materials” hanggang sa finished product para sa merkado at future exports.
Sinabi pa nito na ang bansa ay mayroong raw materials at magaling na labor force na pupunan sa available na teknolohiya para palakasin ang value chain sa agriculture sector.
“Even in terms of the ecosystem of agronomists and agriculturists, experts in fisheries, experts in rice, in broiler production… we have many people who are very, very good. It’s the system that we need,” ayon kay Garafil.
“They’re not working independently as if the other parts of the system don’t exist. That’s more or less where we find ourselves. Now…, I suppose we could start from where we are and try to just keep improving,” dagdag na wika nito.
Kinilala ang papel ng pamahalaan para suportahan ang inisyatiba ng pribadong sektor, sinabi ni Pangulong Marcos na tatalakayin niya sa mga stakeholders ang kakayahan na pagsama-samahin ang proyekto na magpapalakas sa produksyon at katatagan ng agriculture sector.
Nangako naman ang Pangulo na pananatilihin ang momentum ng agrikultura na “move forward,” tinukoy nito ang non-mechanization bilang dahilan ng pagkabigo ng bansa na ipagpatuloy ang proseso ng konsolidasyon apra mapabuti ang sistema.
“That’s why now we’re trying to catch up. So yes, we, I’m sure we can. I’m sure that there has to be a way… to get all the lessons that have been learned by not only you, but everyone around the world,” aniya pa rin sabay sabing “We will discuss amongst ourselves with all the others, those who will be helping put together the project. We will certainly see what is the most ideal way.”
Matatandaang, unang nakipagpulong si Pangulong MArcos sa CP Group executives noong November 2022 kung saan bumisita ang una sa Thailand.
“The CP Group is now a leading holding company in Thailand, holding investments in 21 countries and economies worldwide, operating through more than 200 subsidiaries, and employing more than 300,000 people,” ayon sa ulat.
“It operates across eight business lines – agro-industry and food; retail and distribution; media and telecommunications; e-commerce and digital; property development; automotive and industrial products; pharmaceuticals; and finance and investment,” ayon pa rin sa ulat.
Samantala, nakita naman sa pulong ang presensiya nina business tycoons Sabin Aboitiz at Francis Chua, at mga mga opisyal at kinatawan ng Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Business Advisory Council (ABAC) Philippines.
Ang mga opisyal ng PIlipinas na dumalo sa pulong ay sina Garafil, Presidential Adviser on Investment and Economic Affairs Frederick Go, House of Representatives Speaker Martin Romualdez, at Deputy House Speaker at Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. (Daris Jose)