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UN highlights importance of enabling legal environment to benefit from FTAs

There is a strong need for developing countries to create an enabling legal environment for electronic transactions, as digital trade and cross-border e-commerce become increasingly crucial components in trade deals, according to a legal expert.

E-commerce is increasingly being recognized and promoted in global and regional free trade agreements (FTAs) through provisions for adopting an enabling environment, said Luca Castellani, a legal officer in the Secretariat of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL).

Countries that eye membership in FTAs will therefore do well to note such trends and respond accordingly, he added.

UNCITRAL is the core legal body of the UN system in the field of commercial law tasked to modernize and harmonize the rules of international business. The commission deals with the law on electronic transactions, electronic contracting, and electronic signatures.

Castellani said an enabling legal environment for digital trade can be established through adopting treaties and harmonizing national laws based on uniform legal standards.

These uniform legal standards may have global coverage, such as the UNCITRAL legislative texts, or regional, such as the APEC Data Privacy Pathfinder and APEC Cross Border Privacy Rules.

Focusing on UNCITRAL texts, Castellani said these will help in implementing treaties for countries that want to advance their engagement in the digital economy and realize the benefits from these agreements.

UNCITRAL texts pertaining to e-commerce include the following:

•    UNCITRAL Model Law on Electronic Commerce (MLEC), which has been enacted in over 80 states
•    UNCITRAL Model Law on Electronic Signatures, enacted in about 40 states
•    UN Convention on the Use of Electronic Communications in International Contracts (ECC), which has 16 state parties and over 20 states enacting its provisions domestically
•    UNCITRAL Model Law on Electronic Transferable Records, enacted in seven jurisdictions
•    UNCITRAL Model Law on the Use and Cross-Border Recognition of Identity Management and Trust Services

Castellani noted how two mega trade deals, namely, the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), extend strong support for an enabling legal environment.

Chapter 14 of the CPTPP promotes e-commerce and paperless trade facilitation by providing for the mutual recognition and interoperability of electronic transactions, authentication and signatures. The chapter also explicitly refers to a duty to adopt UNCITRAL texts and allows the use of specific technologies for certain types of transactions.

RCEP, on the other hand, states that each party shall adopt or maintain a legal framework governing electronic transactions, mentioning the use of MLEC, ECC, or other applicable international conventions and model laws relating to e-commerce.

Said Castellani: “UNCITRAL texts have been adopted in more than 100 states, many of them developing and least developed countries” that seek to engage in digital trade and cross-border e-commerce.

He said the adoption of enabling legal texts is needed to balance regulation of e-commerce that can be detrimental to digital trade growth. He also mentioned the need to ensure adequate resources, robust capacity building, and determined implementation since these are the biggest challenges in the creation of an enabling legal environment.

Updating the e-Commerce Act

In the case of the Philippines, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific and the Bureau of Customs introduced in mid-2022 the “Readiness Assessment for Cross-Border Paperless Trade: Philippines” report.

The readiness report conducted a legal and technical assessment of the Philippines’ readiness for cross-border paperless trade and found the country falling short. It recommended the updating of the Electronic Commerce Act or e-Commerce Act to ease the requirements for the recognition of electronic and digital signatures and facilitate cross-border paperless trade in the country.

By amending the e-Commerce Act, it can become consistent with the UN’s Model Law on Electronic Commerce and Electronic Communications Convention, the report added. The MLEC provides internationally acceptable rules for removing legal obstacles and increasing legal predictability for e-commerce, while the ECC aims to facilitate the use of electronic communications in international trade.

Moreover, the report found that implementation remained uneven among agencies and stakeholders in the Philippines.

“Implementation in paperless trade and cross-border paperless trade [has] room for further improvements. The Philippines could reduce trade costs and improve its competitiveness by accelerating its efforts to digitalize trade procedures,” the paper said.

Exports rise 16% to over $22B, trade deficit dips


Cambodia’s total merchandise exports reached $22.483 billion in 2022, rising by 16.44 per cent over 2020, narrowing its international trade deficit by 20.60 per cent to $7.459 billion, according to the General Department of Customs and Excise (GDCE).

The 2022 international merchandise trade came in at $52.425 billion, up 9.19 per cent on a yearly basis, with imports accounting for $29.942 billion, up 4.32 per cent.

GDCE figures show that exports have increased each year since at least 2016 – 16.71 per cent in 2016, 13.01 per cent in 2017, 12.54 per cent in 2018, 16.79 per cent in 2019, 24.36 per cent in 2020, 5.27 per cent in 2021, and most recently, 16.44 per cent or nearly one-sixth in 2022.

Cambodia Chamber of Commerce vice-president Lim Heng believes that the trend will continue in 2023, as the Kingdom’s bilateral and multilateral free trade agreements (FTA) and preferential trade arrangements with the EU and US springboard local products into the international marketplace.

He also assured that the trade deficit is not a significant cause for concern, arguing that imports largely comprise raw materials and components used in the production of export goods, or in the construction of infrastructure aimed at promoting investment in the Kingdom.

“I believe that revenues from Cambodia’s exports will continue to increase in 2023, as the number of new investment projects keeps ticking up,” Heng said.

Hong Vanak, director of International Economics at the Royal Academy of Cambodia, remarked that the double-digit increase in merchandise exports underscores the relative strength of the Cambodian economy, despite the stagnation seen elsewhere as a result of Covid-19, elevated oil prices, the Ukraine conflict, and geopolitical conflicts between major powers.

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Author: Hin Pisei
Source: The Phnom Penh Post

Publication date: 10 January 2023

Australia, Cambodia issue market research booklets to boost trade


The Cambodian Ministry of Commerce and the Australian Embassy, along with relevant institutions, on 9 January co-launched two key market research publications and a Single Digital Platform development project.

It is hoped the market information booklets – Cambodian Crops with Prospects for the EU and RCEP Markets and Cambodia and Unlocking Global Markets by Leveraging Free Trade Agreements (FTA) – will serve as guides to unlock long-term benefits for Cambodia’s agricultural sector.

Minister of Commerce Pan Sorasak said Cambodian Crops with Prospects for the EU and RCEP Markets offer important insights into market demand, consumer preferences, sanitary and phytosanitary biosecurity measures, non-tariff barriers to trade, product utilisation, key competitors and potential windows of opportunity.

“Promising crops included in this report are fresh mango, cashew, chilli, sweet potato, palm sugar, avocado, sesame and processed fruits.

“This information, if used strategically, has the potential to generate long-term benefits for Cambodian agriculture,” Sorasak said.

The Cambodia and Unlocking Global Markets by Leveraging Free Trade Agreements booklet provides up-to-date and easy-to-understand information on the bilateral and regional free trade agreements Cambodia is a signatory to, such as RCEP, the Cambodia-China FTA and the Cambodia-Korea FTA, he added.

“The booklet will help agri-food enterprises, producers, exporters, business associations and other relevant stakeholders to access market diversification opportunities and enjoy the benefits of these FTAs,” Sorasak said.

The Single Digital Platform will emulate Australia’s own FTA portal and act as a comprehensive resource for exporters and importers exploring the benefits of Cambodia’s FTAs.

According to the ministry, the platform will also provide information on rules of origin, procedures to register as an exporter and the ability to obtain certificates of origin.

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Author:  

Source: The Phnom Penh Post

Export of new energy will boost Sarawak’s income to RM11b in 2025, says premier

KUCHING, Dec 18 — Sarawak’s income is expected to increase to RM11 billion in 2025 once its new source of energy can be exported, said Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg.

He was cited in a Sarawak Public Communications Unit (Ukas) report as saying Sarawak can be proud of being the most advanced state in the country in the development of new energy such as hydrogen and with regard to carbon storage.

“These are all new ways to increase income. When we can generate income, only then would investment come in. When we have income, we can modernise our economy. We can set up a Sovereign Wealth Fund.

“Furthermore, we need to save the income because we need liquidity. Our savings must be there,” he was quoted saying during the closing of the High-Performance Team (HPT) Retreat 2022 for Sarawak Civil Service at the Langkawi International Convention Centre in Kedah on Saturday.

Abang Johari called on the state’s civil servants to adopt a culture of innovation in line with the rapidly changing world, stressing that the future depends on utilisation of new methods – including the use of technology – when performing daily tasks.

“That is why we (Sarawak government) implemented the digital economy (policy) and I (had) instructed the State Secretary to immediately organise the International Digital Economy Conference Sarawak (in 2017) because we know that technology is advancing and the world depends on technology.

“And the new economy is based on digital methods,” he said.

At the same time, the Premier hoped civil servants would be aware of every initiative implemented by the Sarawak government, especially the Post Covid-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030 to facilitate better public service delivery.

“All state civil servants need to understand and have a shared commitment to achieve what has been outlined in the PCDS, of which is to drive Sarawak to become a developed state in Malaysia with a high income,” he said.

Abang Johari also said allocations will be provided to enable officers at the middle management level to continue their studies even abroad and improve their skills and competency.

“If they want to advance themselves to PhD level, if there are institutions that can accept them, we can do it, and this includes (going to) Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Oxford University, Stanford University or Silicon Valley. We must give exposure to civil servants.

“And I will provide allocation for civil servants to continue their studies,” he said.

Meanwhile, State Secretary Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki said Sarawak civil servants have given their commitment to ensure that the state’s agenda will be successfully achieved.

He said Abang Johari, whom he named as ‘Father of Innovation’ had moved fast in introducing numerous innovative ideas since assuming the state’s leadership.

“As such, the Sarawak civil service must also move as fast as the Premier to keep up with his momentum,” he said.

The State Secretary also said all heads of departments will continue to go frequently to the ground to keep tabs of the developments going on in all districts.

He also paid tribute to past state secretaries Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohamad Morshidi Abdul Ghani and Datuk Amar Jaul Samion as pioneers in initiating the annual retreat which served as an effective avenue to bring Sarawak forward.

The four-day retreat is attended by more than 200 heads of departments and officers from all the state agencies, departments, statutory bodies, local authorities and GLCs.

The retreat ‘themed Revisit, Rethink and Recharge’ aimed to gauge new ideas and innovations to enhance the service of the state civil service.

A total of eight papers were presented and deliberated, namely SCS Talent Development and Management; Enforcement and Safety; Rural Transformation; Digital Economy; Revenue Reengineering for Local Authorities; Post Covid-19 Development Strategy 2030; Development of Local Talent Management and Foreign Workers; and Residents and District Offices Divisional Transformation.

Also present were state Transport Minister Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin; State Attorney General Datuk Seri Talat Mahmood Abdul Rashid; State Financial Secretary Datuk Seri Dr Wan Lizozman Wan Omar; deputy state secretaries; permanent secretaries; and heads of departments. — Borneo Post

Source : Malay Mail

Matrade eyes more engagement from Sarawak SMEs for exports

KUCHING (Dec 20): The Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade) hopes to see more small and medium enterprises (SMEs) from Sarawak taking part in exports, especially in the halal markets, with its vast opportunities worldwide.

This comes as the corporation will organise 252 programmes next year to help companies get involved in export activities.

Matrade deputy chief officer Sharimahton Mat Saleh encouraged Malaysian companies especially from Sarawak to use the facilities provided by Matrade to promote their products and services and expand their overseas market reach.

“Agencies (here in Sarawak) are very helpful in pushing SMEs to the global stage,” she said during a seminar on ‘Halal Potential, and Market Readiness for Halal Products’ in Kuching earlier today.

“Sarawak is the only state with offices in Singapore, Brunei and Kalimantan, which signifies the state’s agenda to push for exports compared to other states.

“Sarawak even held its own initiatives to do its own export awareness initiatives. We can see their focus on the internalisation agenda. We like to see Sarawak brands expand not just nationally but also globally.”

Touching on halal markets, Sharimahton said Malaysia remains as one of the leaders in the halal product market. According to data from the Global Islamic Economy Indicator (GIEI), Malaysia remains in the lead as the top halal exporting country for the eighth year in a row.

“The ecosystem in Malaysia is comprehensive, from certification from Jakim which is very sought after, in spite of how hard it is to get,” she added.

“This mirrors international demand for halal products from Malaysia.

“Muslim consumers on a global scale acknowledge Malaysia’s halal certification on quality and safety. Green sustainability is an element that is already taken into account in this certification.


“These certs will help expand Malaysia export to the 200 countries worldwide.”

Matrade’s upcoming event, the Malaysian International Halal Exhibition (Mihas), which is dubbed as the largest halal trade event in the world, remains the main event to promote the export of Malaysian halal products and services.

According to Matrade Sarawak director Zamzuri Mohamed, Matrade has a good working relationship with the Sarawak Ministry of International Trade, Industry and Investment (Mintred) in helping to increase the marketability of products produced by Sarawak companies to the international market.

“Matrade Sarawak will continue to establish strategic cooperation with various ministries, agencies, trade associations and chambers of commerce in carrying out export-based activities, which can open up more market access and increase export opportunities for the Sarawak business community.”

Also organised in conjunction with Mihas 2023 is the International Sourcing Programme where Matrade brings foreign buyers to Malaysia to hold business matching sessions with Malaysian companies.

This seminar was organised to raise awareness and a deep understanding of the global halal market as a future growth driver. In addition, seminar participants were also exposed to the best strategies in promoting halal products.

The 19th edition of the Malaysia International Halal Exhibition (Mihas) will be organized from 12 to 15 September 2023 with the theme “Leading the Halal World”. The next edition will be organised as a hybrid at MITEC, Kuala Lumpur.

 Source: The Borneo Post

Tengku Zafrul: Malaysia on strong footing to attract quality investments

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 5): Malaysia’s economy is on a strong footing to attract quality investments, said International Trade and Industry Minister, Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz.

In an interview with CNBC this morning, he said that although challenges still remain due to global economic uncertainties, China’s move to reopen its borders next week bodes well for Malaysia, as China is the nation’s largest trading partner.

“The move will help our exports and economy. Domestically, efforts focusing on environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) principles in key sectors, enhancing the ease of doing business, and moving up on the value chain in sectors that we are strong in will also help cushion the impact of global economic headwinds.

“Malaysia is forecasting a four per cent growth in 2023. Our (growth) numbers are looking good, inflation is at four per cent and the unemployment rate is at 3.6 per cent,” he said.

Tengku Zafrul added that Malaysia is expected to register a gross domestic product (GDP) growth of 8.0-9.0 per cent in 2022.

For the first nine months of 2022, the nation’s economy expanded by 9.3 per cent, he said, adding that the country registered a 14.2 per cent GDP growth in the third quarter of 2022 amid robust domestic and external demand as well as an improved labour market.

During the interview, Tengku Zafrul also noted several possible concerns that could affect the global economic growth prospects, namely monetary and fiscal tightening, global tensions such as the Ukraine-Russia war which disrupted supply chains as well as exporters’ capacity in meeting ESG market demands.

CPTPP to continue

The minister said the Unity Government, led by Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, is very much committed to the nation’s participation in the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), which came into effect on Nov 29, 2022 in Malaysia.

Replying to a question on whether there would be a new re-evaluation of the 11-member trade deal, Tengku Zafrul said that the Prime Minister himself had signed all the necessary administrative agreements to ensure that exports and imports can continue under the ratified deal.

“There were obviously some issues that were raised by various groups and we have addressed that by taking a number of actions to mitigate some of the concerns, so we are very much committed to participating in it,” he said.

Ringgit to strengthen further

When asked if the worse is over for the ringgit, which depreciated by six per cent in 2022, Tengku Zafrul said he is optimistic that the local currency will continue to strengthen in 2023, given Malaysia’s growth forecast for the year.

“I think the key point here is what is going to happen to the US dollar. From my point of view, I think the (US) dollar has reached a comfortable level,” he added. – Bernama

Source : The Borneo Post

Myanmar and Bangladesh’s government signed the Memorandum of Understanding on rice trade

Depending on to the Government-to-Government pact between Myanmar and Bangladesh, Myanmar has conveyed over 165,000 tonnes of white rice to Bangladesh, according to the Ministry of Commerce. Myanmar and Bangladesh inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on rice trade on 8 September this year.

As stated by this MoU, Bangladesh has agreed to buy 250,000 tonnes of white rice and 50,000 tonnes of parboiled rice from Myanmar between 2022 and 2027.
Following the MoU, Bangladesh’s Directorate General of Food and Myanmar Rice Federation signed a sales contract for 200,000 tonnes of Myanmar’s white rice (five per cent broken) to be exported to Bangladesh.

 According to the sales contract, Myanmar has exported over 165,000 tonnes of white rice to Bangladesh as of 2 January 2022. The remaining will be delivered by the deadline.
As per the MoU between Myanmar and Bangladesh on the rice trade, 48 companies, under the supervision of the Myanmar Rice Federation, are to export 200,000 tonnes of rice to Bangladesh with Chinese yuan payment between October 2022 and January 2023. See detailed more the following link… https://www.gnlm.com.mm/myanmar-ships-over-165000-tonnes-of-rice-to-bangladesh-under-g-to-g-pact/

 

Author: NN/EMM

Source: The Global New light of Myanmar

Published date: 7.1.2023

 

FDI inflows slightly decrease in 2022

This year, the total foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows reported a decrease of 11 per cent, while disbursement saw an increase of 13.5 per cent compared to last year.
The total newly-registered capital, adjusted capital, capital contributions, and share purchases stood at $27.7 billion in 2022, equivalent to 89 per cent of last year, according to the Ministry of Planning and Investment's Foreign Investment Agency.
Specifically, 2,036 projects were granted investment registration certificates over the year with total registered capital of almost $12.5 billion, down 18.4 per cent from last year. Adjusted capital reached over $10.1 billion, up 12.2 per cent on-year. A very similar number of projects registered for capital adjustment this year.
There were 3,566 capital contributions and share purchases as of December 20, equivalent to $5.2 billion (a decrease of 25.2 per cent over 2021). One bright spot was disbursed capital, which topped $22.4 billion over the year (13.5 per cent higher than in 2021).
The FIA census also showed that foreign investments were seen in 19 out of the 21 economic sectors during the period. Of which, processing and manufacturing took the lead with $16.8 billion. Real estate was next with a total investment of $4.5 billion, followed by electricity production and distribution with $2.3 billion and scientific and technological activities with $1.3 billion.
It is also worth noting that wholesale and retail, processing and manufacturing, and scientific and technological activities were the sectors with the largest number of newly-registered projects, accounting for 30 per cent, 25.1 per cent, and 16.3 per cent of respectively.
By partner, 108 countries and territories poured money into Vietnam this year. Singapore was on top with $6.5 billion, accounting for 23.3 per cent of the total foreign investment into the country. South Korea came second with $4.9 billion and Japan was third with $4.8 billion. Other names further down the list included China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. Ho Chi Minh City attracted the largest amount of FDI at just under $4 billion, followed by Binh Duong with $3.1 billion, and Quang Ninh with $2.4 billion.
The export turnover of foreign-invested enterprises (FIE) continued increasing by about 12 per cent on-year to roughly $276.5 billion, making up about 74 per cent of the country's total export value. Their import turnover was estimated at $234.7 billion, up 7.4 per cent on-year and accounting for 65.1 per cent of the total.
The FIE trade surplus was $41.8 billion (including crude oil) or $39.5 billion (excluding crude oil). Local businesses reported a trade deficit of $30.8 billion.
The over 36,278 valid foreign-invested projects accumulated across the country boasted total registered capital of more than $438.7 billion. Their disbursement was about $274 billion, equivalent to 62.5 per cent of the valid registered capital.

Marcos, Xi to discuss trade and security issues

PHILIPPINE President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. on Tuesday said he aims to boost cooperation with China on agriculture, trade and industry, energy and regional security issues when he meets with his Chinese counterpart during his three-day state visit.

“I look forward to discussing regional security issues and problems that do not belong to two friends like China and the Philippines and harness trade and investment relations as we accelerate our post-pandemic growth,” he said in a departure speech streamed live on Facebook.

Mr. Marcos, who took office in June, earlier said the country would be a “friend to all” and “an enemy to none.” His state visit on Jan. 3 to 5 is his first this year and the first outside Southeast Asia.

Private sector representatives will accompany him during the meetings as his government aims to secure 10 bilateral agreements with China, Mr. Marcos said.

“I hope to return home to the Philippines with a harvest of agreements and investments that will benefit our countrymen and further strengthen the foundation of our economic environment,” he added.

In November, Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Mr. Marcos in Bangkok, where they agreed to stick to “friendly consultation” when dealing with the South China Sea dispute, the Chinese Embassy in Manila said in a statement on Nov. 17.

A Chinese Coast Guard vessel allegedly took by force rocket debris that was being towed by a Philippine Navy ship in the disputed waters that month.

Mr. Marcos earlier said his visit to China could be a way to avoid more incidents in the South China Sea.

China claims more than 80% of the sea, which is believed to contain substantial oil and gas deposits and through which billions of dollars in trade passes each year. It has ignored a 2016 ruling by a United Nations-backed arbitration court that voided its claim based on a 1940s map.

During his state visit, the Philippines and China would sign an accord that aims “to avoid miscalculation and miscommunication in the West Philippine Sea,” Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Nathaniel G. Imperial said last week, referring to areas of the sea within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.

The agreement, which will be signed by Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Jose Enrique A. Manalo and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, would establish direct communication between their offices at various levels, he added.

A group of Filipino-Chinese businessmen and some economists last week said the public should expect more partnerships with China in trade, tourism, agriculture, public housing and security after the state visit.

Some critics view the meeting between Mr. Marcos and Chinese President Xi Jinping with skepticism, citing China’s failure to deliver on its investment promises to ex-President Rodrigo R. Duterte.

“It is hard for me to see any direct benefits from the China trip of President Marcos given the failed promises and unfulfilled commitments of President Xi and his government to then President Duterte worth $26 billion of projects and investments,” Victor Andres C. Manhit, president of local think tank Stratbase ADR, said in a Messenger chat.

“Obviously, it will be hard to see any immediate gains from the visit,” said Michael Henry Ll. Yusingco, a policy analyst. “But the fact is, the visit can be an opportunity for the administration to show its resolve to defend our territorial sovereignty not just to China but to other nations keenly watching the state visit.”

In July, the Transportation department said the Philippines had scrapped its loan applications with state-owned China Eximbank for three multibillion-peso railway projects undertaken under the previous government.

Foreign policy experts this week said the Marcos-Xi meeting would set the tone of relations between the two countries against the backdrop of their sea dispute.

His state visit would also determine whether China is committed to repairing its damaged relations with the Southeast Asian nation, they said.

“Aside from sharing the wonders of our archipelago with our Chinese friends, strengthened people-to-people exchanges will allow us to bridge gaps in understanding between the two countries at all levels,” Mr. Marcos said in his departure speech. — John Victor D. Ordoñez

Digitalizing the dairy industry for higher yield

LAST December Metro Pacific Agro Ventures (MPAV) introduced the Metro Pacific Dairy Farms (MPDF), a result of the acquisition of Laguna Creamery Inc. and a partnership with the Israeli LR Group. The new farm aims to digitalize the dairy industry to improve both milk supply and the quality of life of the milking cows are the primary objectives of the newest venture of the MVP Group.

“By bringing modern farming technology to the Philippine agricultural landscape, MPAV is here to change the face of Filipino farming for good,” Jovy Hernandez, President and CEO of MPAV told the audience at the launch of the Metro Pacific Dairy Farms in Bay, Laguna.

Ninety-nine percent of the Philippines’ milk products are imported. Digitalizing the dairy farm is seen as the best way to tip the scales in the current local dairy industry. The aim is to hit at least 10 percent of local milk supply by the time the farm is in full operation. Apart from the LR Group MPAV is cooperating with the province of Laguna, University of the Philippines at Los Baños, the Department of Trade and Industry, and the National Dairy Authority in a campaign it calls #FreshForward.

This modern farming technology will extend to all agricultural ventures of MPAV, but at the MPDF, it is all about creating a facility that will improve milk production—the initial target is about 6 million liters annually—from about 600 milking Holstein-Friesian cows by 2025, the year the MPAV dairy farm is expected to be in full production.

The LR Group leads the implementation of the necessary agriculture technology for MPDF. Starting with knowing the needs and available resources, manpower and technologies LR brings a mindset needed to create development by applying innovation and out-of-the-box thinking to the agriculture field.

“We will operate the dairy farm using proven technologies from our many ventures globally. This includes Cloud-based systems and monitoring devices on the cows themselves. We need to meet our target of approximately 30 liters of milk per cow. Our proven processes incorporate feed mills, dairy processing facilities, and agricultural operations—for corn production for example—to ensure high-quality protein sources for the cows,” Ami Lustig, co-founder of the LR Group told Malaya Business Insight.

LR Group will provide both the production and dairy operations processes which include state-of-the-art Cloud technologies to help monitor the cows while MPDF manages the marketing of its products of which Carmen’s Best, a recent acquisition of the MPAV will be the first client. The arrangement with the LR Group also means that with their expertise, the development of the local agricultural industries—first surrounding Bay, Laguna and may expand across the Southern Luzon region guarantees offtake, allowing farmers to more productive ensuring economic success.

“We will have essentially like a smartwatch on the cows,” Ron Ben Yami, chief technology officer and also a co-founder of the LR Group. He said that monitoring the cows’ movements, basic vital signs, and feeding patterns can reflect back on the production and inventory of feeds.

“Happy cows are important to the whole ecosystem. Happy cows make the best milk,” Hernandez said adding that the MPDF is a commercial operation—consolidated resources and infrastructure to offer the best products to the market.

“To get the freshest grains to mill and feed the cows is part of how well we treat them—knowing that the cows are central to this success of a dairy farm,” Yami added, emphasizing how agro-industry will ensure high yield while generating jobs throughout the community.

MPDF will also implement global, sustainable technological advancements. MPDF will be equipped with solar farms that will produce power for the dairy facility, a water treatment plant that will provide human-grade drinking water for cattle, and a waste management facility that will allow the facility to produce fertilizer.

30 Filipino exhibitors to join German trade fair

THIRTY Filipino exhibitors in the home, fashion and lifestyle (HFL) industries will take part in the "Ambiente 2023," a trade fair to be held at Frankfurt Messe, Germany.
 
The Department of Trade and Industry's Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (Citem) said that several micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and artisan communities in the HFL sector will feature their products in the fair slated on February 3 to 7, 2023, all to be showcased under the DesignPhilippines Brand.
 
Ambiente will prioritize four product areas for dining, living, giving and working while taking into consideration sustainability, materials innovation, and design breakthroughs and trends.
 
Citem added that out of the 30 participating exhibitors, 10 will come from Tarlac, the country's Partner Artisan Community.
 
"We are excited for the competitive roster of exhibitors which will be featured in the 2023 edition of Ambiente," Citem executive Dr. Edward Fereira said. "In addition, a mix of returning and new exporters is set to shine on the international stage where our local designs can be appreciated by attendees from different parts of the globe."
 
He added that the strong presence of home-grown products in the trade fair will allow Filipino MSMEs to reach more markets, particularly from Europe.
 
"Our team at Citem is committed to offering the world a global range of export-ready products," Fereira said.
 
The Philippine pavilion will also continue the narrative of "Hands that work" from its previous participation in 2022, which was inspired by the fine workmanship and creative use of natural materials by the local communities that cultivate home-grown crafts.
 
Ambiente 2023 marks its first comeback after its three-year break with around 4,700 exhibitors confirming their participation in the trade fair.
 
Source: Manila Times

Talent shortage in Singapore biotech to grow almost 30% in next 10 years: SGInnovate

THE shortage of biotech talent in Singapore is set to widen by 29.2 per cent over the next decade as the sector expands, according to a report released by deep tech investor SGInnovate on Monday (Dec 19). 

Authored by global strategy firm LEK Consulting, the report forecasts that the number of biotech companies in Singapore will grow by over 61.5 per cent between 2022 and 2032, from 52 to 84. 

The number of clinical-phase companies is expected to more than double to 36 in the next 10 years, while those in the commercial phase are expected to grow from three to nine. The number of pre-clinical companies, which has grown rapidly since 2012, is expected to stand at 39 in 2032.

Biotech startups are a key engine of innovation, as global pharma companies pursue a strategy of acquiring, co-developing with or licensing therapeutics from smaller biotech companies. While the outlook for Singapore as a biotech hub is positive, talent is a key constraint. 

The shortage in the number of personnel is set to grow 30 per cent, from 154 in 2022 to 199 in 2032, the report predicts. Key roles facing the shortage include research and development, production, regulatory affairs and business management.

Table with 5 columns and 5 rows. Currently displaying rows 1 to 5.
Company phasePre-clinicalClinical
Year2022203220222032
C-suite/board2018036
Manager70522850
Junior2061637

It is mainly biotech companies in the clinical stage that are set to face shortages, across junior, manager and C-suite roles. The gap is most critical at the C-suite level, with the need for professionals that can support business management activities such as fundraising and business direction.

Managers who drive vendor and third-party engagement would also be in shortage.

In contrast, the talent gap is expected to narrow for pre-clinical companies, as research professionals flock to these companies for hands-on industry experience with these early-stage players, the report said.

To address the talent crunch, the report recommends that biotech companies accelerate career progression for experienced juniors reaching managerial level, through rotations and secondments. Incentives could also be provided for talent to relocate from overseas.

Meanwhile, biotech companies should be incentivised to conduct their phase II and III clinical trials locally, to allow professionals to gain experience with industry-level operations. Phase II trials involve testing a drug in a larger group, while phase III trials compare the safety and efficacy to existing treatments, before commercialisation. 

“Singapore can also position itself as a facilitating hub for trials in the Asia-Pacific region, especially for local and overseas biotech companies that target this market,” the report said. 

It also suggested that pre-clinical research organisations could be set up in Singapore, to provide professionals with opportunities to manage the outsourcing of experiments in pre-clinical settings.

SGInnovate will work with industry stakeholders to support biotech talent development based on the report’s insights, said Juliana Lim, the organisation’s executive director for talent. 

“While the talent gap remains a perennial issue for biotech companies globally, the demand for expertise in these areas presents an opportunity for researchers and academia to gain industry exposure,” she added.

Source: The Business Times. Link Here.

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