The opening of the new shipping route within the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) is expected to further enhance trading between the Philippines and Indonesia, and the rest of the other ASEAN countries in the future.
Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez said that it is a good project since it connects the areas that are far from the metropolis.
“Bitung area is far from Jakarta. The project connects the areas na hindi masyadong naco-connect. Imagine, there is now a direct connection na dati, dumadaan pa sa Manila and sa Jakarta,” he said in an interview during the Davao-Gensan-Bitung Roro launching last Sunday, April 30.
The DTI Secretary also said that the route will open new opportunities for trade expansion within markets outside the region, as well as the building of the halal capability of the Philippines.
“We recognize the huge market potential of halal in the world about two to three trillion dollars. We need to really top that market. Partnership with Brunei and Indonesia, we’re trying to enhance the capacity to accredit halal products coming from the Philippines. It’s very important projects like this that also build the halal market for us,” Secretary Lopez said.
The DTI has been looking at all possible halal products to be exported to Indonesia particularly processed goods, cosmetics, personal care. He also expressed that this halaling would also help in the tourism aspect of the country.
“Kaya di tayo nakaka-attract ng maraming Muslim tourists because walang halal restaurants and resorts silang mapuntahan. That is what we are trying to build now—the capacity to build technical cooperation with Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia. Increase our capacity to manufacture halal accredited products.”
At present, the products identified by the private sector in Mindanao that will be shipped to Indonesia are animal feeds, fertilizer, construction materials, ice cream products, poultry (halal), fresh fruits and synthetics.
