The Philippines is sharpening its pitch for agriculture to global investors, arguing that the sector should no longer be viewed merely as a development challenge but as a viable, bankable investment option.
At the ceremonial signing of the partnership for the Hand-in-Hand National Investment Forum 2026 held at the Asian Development Bank, Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. framed the initiative as a shift in how the country presents its agri-fisheries industry to the global investment community.
The forum, organized with the Food and Agriculture Organization, aims to channel private capital into projects across farming, fisheries and rural infrastructure—areas the government says hold significant but underfinanced growth potential.
“Today, we formalize our shared vision for the agri-fisheries sector,” said Tiu Laurel, stressing that the initiative brings development institutions and private investors to the same table in a push to accelerate rural growth.
At the center of the effort is the Hand-in-Hand (HIH) initiative, a global FAO platform that links data-driven agricultural priorities with financing and technical expertise. Staging the National Investment Forum on home soil signals the Philippines’ bid to translate international interest into concrete investments.
The move also aligns with the economic agenda of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., whose administration has sought to revitalize agriculture while improving food security and rural incomes.
Tiu Laurel said the country’s participation in the FAO Global Hand-in-Hand Investment Forum in 2024 and 2025 demonstrated that Philippine agriculture can capture the attention of global financiers. Bringing the forum to Manila, he added, is meant to “bridge the gap between global capital and local stakeholders.”
That gap has long constrained the sector.
Despite employing millions of Filipinos, agriculture has struggled to attract large-scale investment, weighed down by fragmented supply chains, climate vulnerability and persistent infrastructure bottlenecks.
By promoting the industry as a “highly bankable sector,” the Department of Agriculture is signaling a stronger push toward investment-led modernization.
The National Investment Forum is expected to spotlight high-impact projects in priority commodities, from farm production and processing to logistics and value-chain development—segments where development banks and private investors increasingly see commercial potential.
The emphasis on private-sector participation reflects a growing recognition that public funds alone cannot transform rural economies. Institutions like ADB and FAO can provide frameworks, expertise and credibility, but scaling agricultural ventures will ultimately depend on commercial capital.
The broader objective, the DA chief said, goes beyond attracting financing. “Through this forum, we redefine Philippine agriculture from being a legacy of the past to a sustainable engine for growth,” he said.
Whether the initiative delivers will hinge on investor appetite—and on whether farmers and fishers, whom Tiu Laurel called the forum’s intended beneficiaries, ultimately see tangible gains from the capital flowing into the countryside.
