The Philippines joined forces with the Food and Agriculture Organization and the Asian Development Bank to attract private capital to its agriculture and fisheries sectors through the Hand-in-Hand National Investment Forum 2026.
The government intends to secure at least P1 billion in investment commitments from participating stakeholders to modernize rural infrastructure and production.
Department of Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said at a ceremonial signing held Monday at Asian Development Bank headquarters the initiative aims to channel funding into farming, fisheries and rural infrastructure. These areas remain significantly underfinanced despite having strong growth potential, according to the government.
“Today, we formalize our shared vision for the agri-fisheries sector,” Tiu Laurel said. He noted that the partnership brings development institutions and private investors together to accelerate rural growth.
The forum operates under the Hand-in-Hand initiative, a global Food and Agriculture Organization platform that pairs data-driven agricultural priorities with financing and technical expertise. Philippine officials hope the domestic forum will convert international interest into concrete local investments.
