TARLAC CITY – Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), in partnership with French firm SEMMARIS and the Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC), eyes to conduct a feasibility study on the development of an International Food Market in New Clark City, Tarlac.
BCDA emphasized that the project aims to become a facility that will connect buyers and sellers of food/agri-products both locally and in the Asian region.
In addition, it will benefit local farmers as it will provide direct market access for them to sell their goods at higher prices thereby increasing their income.
“Once operational, this project will be useful not only for Clark but also for the whole region and expressed interest in helping develop a green economy and agro-business sector in the Philippines,” French Ambassador Thierry Mathou explained.
“We are in the first step, and I’m confident that in the next couple of years we will be able to inaugurate the first, wholesale market in Asia here in the Philippines, with the expertise of SEMMARIS in France,” he furthered.
The Rungis International Market (Marche International de Rungis) is the first fresh wholesale market in the world that supplies the City of Paris and Paris Area with leading perishable agro-food platforms.
Operated and managed by SEMMARIS, it is the largest wholesale food market in the world—with markets in Moscow, Dubai, and in Kazakhstan.
On another note, MPIC is a leading Philippine-based, publicly listed investment and management company engaged in the business of water utilities, power generation and distribution, toll-road operations, hospitals, rail and logistics.
For his part, MPIC Chairman Manuel Pangilinan lauded the Duterte administration for being a “dynamic” government – citing the number of agreements signed only within the first year of his leadership.
“We look forward to moving this project ahead and hopefully it will translate into a commercial venture with BCDA and Semmaris—and of course with the support of the French government,” Pangilinan stressed.
For his part, SEMMARIS Head of Strategic Investment Projects Benoit Juster reiterated that Clark is the perfect location in Southeast Asia for the project.
“First, Clark is very close to Metro Manila. Second, Clark is home to essential infrastructure such as roads, airport, seaport, and soon, railways. Third, the agricultural sector and the agro-food sector is very important in the Philippines,” he noted.
Juster added that the wholesale market, can be a very strong and efficient tool to facilitate development of the agricultural sector.
The New Clark City is a soon to rise metropolis envisioned to address the growing population and congestion in Metro Manila and will serve as a viable alternative location where different industries can do business. (CLJD/TJBM-PIA 3)