The Philippines’ Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Proceso J. Alcala will visit Dubai and Abu Dhabi in United Arab Emirates (UAE) on November 21-26, 2012 to encourage Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) to invest in agriculture and fisheries.

A delegation headed by Secretary Alcala will present to the OFWs the investment opportunities on crops, livestock and fisheries during the Investment Forum in Dubai at the Philippine School of Dubai and Abu Dhabi at the Abu Dhabi National Theater. This activity will be conducted by DA in collaboration with the Philippine Embassy in UAE.

Officials and technical experts from the DA’s Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service (AMAS), Livestock Development Council (LDC), Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) and National Agribusiness Corporation (NABCOR) will have a business counselling to the OFWs during the event. A group from the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) will also join Secretary Alcala to provide business advisory to the OFWs.

DA’s investment forum in Abu Dhabi will be held parallel with the launching of the PINOYWISE (Worldwide Initiative for Investment Savings and Entrepreneurship)’ Financial Education and Investment Mobilization Program. PINOYWISE is a network of national and local agencies in the Philippines, civil society organizations and private sector that is involved in promoting to migrants and families financial education, investment mobilization, trade and eco/agro-tourism. PINOYWISE is being convened by DA, Philippine Embassy in UAE, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP) and ATIKHA, a non-government organization that work for OFW reintegration program.

The investment forum is being done by the DA to entice the OFWs and their families in the Philippines to go back to farming and contribute to agriculture and economic growth in the countryside as well as help in the achievement of the country’s food security.

In his stay in Dubai, Secretary Alcala will have a bilateral talk with H.E. Dr. Rashid Ahmed Bin Fahad Ministry of Environment and Water (MEW) to discuss agriculture and fisheries cooperation between the DA and the MEW. He will also meet Dubai-based food importers and distributors to promote Philippine agriculture and fishery products.