MANILA, Feb. 27 — The Department of Agriculture (DA) will aggressively promote the export of coconut sap sugar, popularly called "coco sugar," and corner a big share of a billion-dollar alternative sweetener market.

“In tandem with the private sector, we are crafting a master plan to promote coconut sap sugar overseas and win a big share of the US$ 1.1-billion global alternative sweetener market,” said Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala.

He said the DA — in tandem with other agri-fishery food producers, processors and exporters — will tap new and emerging exports markets, and strengthen existing ones.

Alcala said the country will reinvigorate and diversify traditional farm exports like coconut oil, tropical fruits (banana, pineapple and mangoes), tuna, sugar, and abaca, among others.

For emerging markets, he said the country is eyeing at the following countries: South Korea for avocados, after we allowed the entry of Korean paprika into the Philippines; China for bangus or milkfish, as Alsons Aquaculture Corp., based in Sarangani, sent an initial shipment of nine tons of bangus to Xiamen; Japan and Malaysia, for pork; and South Korea, for chicken.

For livestock and poultry, Alcala said “we will bank on our FMD- and bird flu-freedom to expand our markets in Asia, Middle East and the rest of the world.”

“These are just some of our initiatives meant to support the continued growth and prosperity of the food, agribusiness and agriculture industry,” he said. (PNA)lgi/JMC/ssc

Source: DA to export more coco sugar, taps -B global sweetener market