In a big step forward for Philippine trade, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has announced that FastboxPH will send more of the Philippines’ famous mangoes to Australia in April 2024. This effort is expected to strengthen the trade ties between the two countries even more.
DTI Secretary Fred Pascual pointed out the strong trade comeback between the Philippines and Australia, with trade numbers now higher than before the pandemic. In 2023, the trade between the two countries jumped to $4.1 billion, which is 20% more than the $3.4 billion from the year before.
“Our growing trade shows how much Australia likes our products. Our mango exports are a big success and show how we’re improving trade in agriculture, which is very important for our economy,” Secretary Pascual said.
Pascual also discussed the importance of recent trade agreements, such as the Second Protocol of the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA), which the Philippines signed in February 2024, for improving trade and investment between the two countries.
The Philippine Trade and Investment Center in Sydney (PTIC-Sydney), DTI’s team abroad, is leading the effort to make Philippine agricultural products, especially mangoes, more known worldwide. They’re using trade shows and meetings to help with this.
Philippine Ambassador to Australia, Ma. Hellen B. De La Vega is optimistic about the future and noted the importance of the second mango shipment.
“The Philippines and Australia are committed to stronger trade ties, and these mangoes are a happy sign of our partnership, especially as we celebrate Filipino Food Month in April,” Ambassador De La Vega said.
FastboxPH, the company handling the mango shipment, has seen a lot of interest in Philippine mangoes in Australia thanks to their great taste and quality. They’ve met all the strict rules for bringing food into Australia and plan to sell Philippine mangoes in more places nationwide.
Miguel Ripoll, the head of FastboxPH, is excited about bringing Philippine mangoes back to Australia this April. He said, “The great response to our first shipment has opened the door for Philippine mangoes to be loved in Australia. We want to make them a common choice for Australian families.”
With the DTI leading the way and everyone working together, the outlook for Philippine mangoes in Australia is very promising, with benefits expected for both countries.
