The Mindanao Food Congress Tri-Event starts today at the Limketkai Atrium in Cagayan de Oro with the theme: Transforming Mindanao Agriculture Towards a Food-Secure Future.
Aligning with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s to place agriculture as a top priority in the country’s agenda, this year’s Food Congress seeks to take a deep dive on the gaps in the Mindanao agriculture and food supply chain network and finding alternative options to support diverse distribution with efficient logistics to improve productivity and competitiveness.
The week-long program kicks off with the ceremonial ribbon cutting for the Oro BEST Expo 2022 and the NSTW sa Amihanang Mindanao at the Atrium with DOST Sec. Renato U. Solidum and Indian Ambassador to the Philippines H.E. Shambhu S. Kumaran leading the host Oro Chambers, regional and LGU chief executives in the ribbon cutting for the two exhibits.
The Lanao del Norte LGU led by Gov. Imelda Q. Dimaporo will host an invitation-only luncheon for stakeholders Pagana Maranao, a traditional Maranao feast afforded to welcome special guests and visitors during special occasions with the highest form of hospitality, symbolizing the host’s level of civility and indicates the degree of the host’s grace.
The Congress officially starts in the afternoon at Limketkai Luxe with guests to be welcomed by the host Oro Chamber and Cagayan de Oro City as the host city with Mayor Rolando “Klarex” Uy. After briefings by Congress Director Ruben A. Vegafria on the MFC and Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) Chair Ma. Belen Acosta, H.E. Shambu S. Kumaran will deliver the keynote address.
DOST Sec. Sulidom will host a business meeting/cocktails for presidents of PCCI Regional Governors, Mindanao’s chambers of commerce, and other chamber officers following the afternoon plenary.
The day’s events will climax with a Welcome Dinner and Fellowship with an Indian Cultural Night to be hosted by the Indian Business Forum Association of the Philippines, Inc.(IBF) and the Embassy of India Manila featuring Diwali, India’s Festival of Lights. (read the related story on this page)
This Mindanao-wide Congress is an ideal venue for government policymakers, business leaders, farmers and stakeholders to discuss policy issues and recommend measures to help transform Mindanao agriculture towards a resilient and sustainable food-secure future. The approved resolutions will be turned over to the President who has been invited to grace the closing plenary on October 28.
The Oro BEST Expo, the longest running and biggest trade exposition in Northern Mindanao provides micro, small and medium-scale enterprises the opportunity and venue to showcase their products and services, and expand their network and linkages.
The Mindanao Food Congress will be held on October 26-28 at The Limketai Luxe hotel while the Oro BEST Expo 2022 and NSTW sa Amihanang Mindanao with the Department of Science and Technology – Region 10 will be held simultaneously on October 26-30 at the Atrium, Limketkai Mall.
The 3-in-1 event is an indication of the dynamic and inclusive collaboration of the government, industry, and academic ecosystem in this part of Mindanao.
This will be the first time ever the Mindanao Food Congress (MFC) will have a Partner Country in India, through the Embassy of India in Manila.
As the MFC Partner Country, India will have the largest exhibit at the Oro BEST Expo 2022 where it will showcase its food and agriculture technology innovations and renewable energy applications.
The Embassy of India in Manila has been aggressively establishing linkages with regional business organizations in the Philippines to promote greater participation and partnership for sustainable agricultural growth and enhanced food security between the two nations.
“We do recognize the Philippines is a very large country, and a lot of business activities in the outreach have to happen at the regional level, and the Oro Chamber is one of the very first chambers that we have engaged and the outcomes have been very, very positive,” said Ambassador Kumaran in a message during the 2nd Quarter General Membership Meeting of the Cagayan de Oro Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation, Inc. (Oro Chamber) held July 8th at Upper Canitoan, Cagayan de Oro.
With the Republic of India as Partner Country, the Mindanao Food Congress Tri-Event is hosted by the Cagayan de Oro Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation, Inc. (Oro Chamber), City of Cagayan de Oro, Province of Misamis Oriental, the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) with India as Partner Country, and jointly convened by the Embassy of India Manila, Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Tourism, City of Cagayan de Oro, Iligan City, and the Provinces of Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Lanao del Norte, Bukidnon and Camiguin, and Cebu Pacific Air.
