MANILA, March 16 (Xinhua) -- The Philippines is stepping up efforts to attract global capital to agriculture, positioning the sector as a "viable, bankable investment option," the country's Department of Agriculture (DA) said Monday.
At the ceremonial signing of the partnership for the Hand-in-Hand National Investment Forum 2026, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel said the initiative reflects a shift in how the country presents its agri-fisheries sector to international financiers.
The forum aims to channel private investment into projects spanning farming, fisheries and rural infrastructure. Those areas offer strong growth potential but remain chronically underfunded, the DA said in its press release.
Tiu Laurel said the initiative brings development institutions and private investors together to accelerate rural economic growth.
Despite employing millions of Filipinos, agriculture has struggled to draw large-scale investment due to fragmented supply chains, climate vulnerability and persistent infrastructure bottlenecks, the DA said.
By promoting agriculture as a highly bankable sector, the DA said it is signaling a stronger push toward investment-led modernization. ■
