The private sector sugar industries of Thailand, Indonesia and the
Philippines have agreed in principle to form the ASEAN Sugar Alliance to
strengthen their industries for the coming ASEAN Economic Community in 2015,
Sugar Regulatory Administration Ma. Regina Baustita Martin said yesterday.
The idea to form an alliance was
initially discussed by Thailand sugar industry representatives when Philippine
sugarcane farmers and millers visited that country in August 2012, Martin said
in a press release.
At first, the alliance was to be
comprised of sugar industries of Thailand and Indonesia, but after the
Philippine sugar industry showed interest, it was welcomed as an incorporating
party, she said.
The private sector Philippine
sugar industry was attracted to join to establish a “strong relationship” among
the sugar industries in ASEAN, where Thailand is the largest producer and
exporters of sugar, and Indonesia, the biggest consumer and importer, the press
release added.
The ASA will be the venue for
exchanges and collaboration on sugarcane, sugar and related products researches
among alliance members. This is in response to the changing business
environment - trade, growing demand for sugar, advances in farm and mill
technologies and changing weather patterns, Martin said in the press release.
ASA's mission focuses on the
important role of sugarcane as raw material for food and energy, the
cooperation on sugar related business development, and the support to the
government sector for the upcoming ASEAN Economic Community, it also said.
ASEAN, with a population of
almost 600 million, produces around 17 million tons of sugar, and consumes
about 14 million tons of sugar yearly. The consuming ratio per person is around
23 kilograms per year, according to the International Sugar Organization (ISO),
the press release said.
Cherdpong Siriwit from Thailand
was elected chairman of ASA, while Pedro Roxas of the Philippines was elected
vice-chairman during the organizational meeting in Bangkok Wednesday.
Joining the Philippine delegation
were Jeannie Krebs and Francisco Varua, treasurer and executive vice president
of PSMA, respectively, she said.
Martin was invited by the
Philippine sugar industry to observe the proceedings, the press release added.*
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