The Mindanao Collective Trademark (MCT) will be officially launched in June. The launch is the result of an extensive consultation process involving private sector stakeholders, officials and representatives of the European Union (EU)-funded Trade Related Technical Assistance Project 3 (TRTA 3), Department of Trade and Industry, Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), and PhilExport.
Sagrex Corp., a Davao City-based firm is now preparing to stamp its products with the MCT. The company developed together with the Department of Science and Technology a blast freezing technology for the Philippine native banana locally known as saba, exports its microwavable frozen banana and banana fries to the Unites States, Canada, Australia and countries in the Middle East.
The company, also a producer of farm inputs and packaging materials for fresh produce, earns about $60,000 to $80,000 a month from its processed saba, or cardava, export.
Renea Cruz-Tan, Knowledge Management Officer of the TRTA 3 Project Management Office, said the project is the continuation and expansion of the EU’s assistance to the Philippines to promote trade and investment.
The commodities that have been identified to have competitive advantage are tropical fruits, rice, coconut products, rubber, abaca, tuna and sardines, cacao, seaweeds, and handicrafts.
Source: Fresh Plaza