Investors and New Importers eyeing Philippine Bananas

I have been entertaining investors since last year and the most recent are from UK and Asia Pacific.  They are not interested to see the corporate scenes in Makati.  They rather see Davao.  They asked me to accompany them in Davao Philippines. Inspite of flight delays, humid climate and inconvenient location, they enjured all the hassles just to see the banana plantations in Davao, packing facility and export potential.  Upon seing it, they abruptly said, “WOW!”   I was asked, “how come we  found out about you and the banana plantation only now? ” They were amazed how big the plantation was, as big as a country.
And last week they returned in spite of the negative issues raised by a giant country to Philippine banana industry.   It’s a mistake that many fruit growers only now realized that dealing to this nation is a big risk.  Although many banana growers are losing hope because of the effects of the negative news brought about by rejection of a giant nation incidentally claiming part of Philippines as its territory.  Believe it or not, the investors see differently with enthusiasm and big hopes for Philippine banana industry.  They  said I need to open my eyes and widen my horizon.
With the negative news being thrown to Philippine banana industry, I am receiving more buy inquiries now than before. They are mostly from Europe, Middle East, Asia Pacific and a few from South Indies, and some of them are investment proposals.  They don’t see pest rather they see big opportunities and big return on investment.  Philippine banana industry is still standing and I see a future in it.
It’s not a secret that Japan is the biggest importer of Philippine bananas and it is a fact that Japan is one of the strictiest importer.  Japan should be the first to reject Philippine bananas if the pest issue is rampant and United Nation or World Health Organization should be the first to announce it, as what they did when they discover “sars” and “bird flu” in China and HK.
American and Japanese brand firms controlled and operate most of the plantation of bananas in the Philippines (e.g. Del Monte, Dole, Chiquita, Sumifru, etc.).  These firms are in control of the industry since the early 1900.  We know for a fact how strict US and Japan are and if you can visit, you won’t even be allowed to enter the plantation without being quarantined. These plantations is one of the well managed plantation in the world that is why Philippine bananas is more expensive than what you can get in South America, India and Africa.  European clients told me the difference is found in taste and quality… Philippine bananas are proven deliciously sweeter and the quality is better.
Allow me to share my answer to one of my buyer’s question, …”how can you prove the other clients that the bananas have not been infected?”
1.  No plantation in the world have zero pest that’s why the government in cooperation with big brand firms and growers are in partnership as prevention is better than cure.  
But since banana plantation in the Philippines are majority controlled by American and Japanese firms, they put investments to make sure that pest are controlled.  And if there is, I can assure you that it is just an isolated case and the government has identified where it is.  We are all warned of the location so we don’t get our supplies on those pinpointed region.
2. Identified safe zone and reputable farms passes through regular inspection and will not be granted cerfitication if they do not pass criteria:

a. All banana trees have label or tag for inventory.  Growers and Inspectors know easily if there is pest or disease because it passes regular inspection and the records are put on a database including test results, soil condition, history, number of times treated, number of times it was fertilized, records of defects if any, totality of banana tree from roots to stem to leaves, who is the owner, who is the people involve, etc.
b. All fruits have label or tag and area all recorded in a database to quickly identify if one has disease or pest or not.
c. International Quarantine standards are practice and no outsider can come in without passing through the procedure.
d. If the plantation did not pass quarantine or was identified under unsafe zone, it won’t be given Accreditation from Philippine Banana Growers and Exporters.
e.  No exporters are awarded with Export License without its farm supplier passes the inspection of Quarantine Division of Philippine Department of Agriculture.
3. Banana fruits has cover for protection against insects and pests.
4. We assigned quality inspector/look out in the field to make sure that the bananas are freshly harvested at right age and passed international quality standards.
5. We are in partnership with a number of selected credible farms and packing house.  Our packing procedure are under big brands quality standard… 
…and our workers immediately reject banana fingers or bunch with found reject qualities.
 
6. Bananas are again inspected at loading site even they are already in boxes (Sampling process and counter checking of banana quality)

…sensor test (special container)
container provider’s specialist supports testing on bananas
8. Phytosanitary certificate is a must.  We will not be issued with Phytosanitary certificate if inspector found rejects at farms on boxes inside the contianer.
9.  We formulate our own packing and loading report for buyer’s assurance that we are checking every step of the way. 
10.  Buyer/Consignee are protected by a contract.
Below are the kind of defects we not allow to be packed:

PIT MARKS

BROKEN NECK

MALFORMED

KNIFE CUTS

NIPPLE END

POOR FRUIT

PUSED FINGER

DIRTY FINGERS

FINGER ROT

FALSE RIPE

FRUIT ROT

OTHER FUNGUS

SCALE INSECTS

MEALY BUGS

BLACK BUGS

CHEMICAL RESIDUE

DIAMOND HEAD FRUIT SPOT

MATURITY STAIN

CHEMICAL BURN

SCABS (BROWN)

SUNBURN

SPLIT PEEL

Note:  There is so much cheating in this business and the ones who do not make sure who they deal with before the spot buy are the common victims of cheating in many form.   

Philippine Made Handcrafted Items

Native Handcrafted Bags

Code:  B1-440

Code:  e-220

Code:  e-55

Code:  e13-188

Code:  e12-130

Code:  e11-220

Code:  e10-165

Code:  e9-70

Code:  e8-275

Code:  e7-220

 Code:  e6-253

Code:  e5-275

Code:  e4-253

Code:  e3-220

Code:  e2-220

Code:  e1-275

Code:  e-wr-308

Code:   B9-160set2

 Code:  B8-290

 Code:  B7-290

 Code:  B6-240

 Code:  B5-285

 Code:  B4-250

 Code:  B3-285

 Code:  B2-320

Code:  B1-440

Plates Mat & Household Items

Plates Mat

Code:  Bps-160

Plates Mat

Code:  Bpc2-210

Plates Mat

Code:  Bpc1-260

Food Cover

Code:  Bf-125sm

Window Blinds

Code:  Bc-315

Native Party Plates

Code:  B-12set


Wine Bag

Code:  e-wine308

 Tissue Holder

 Code:  e-tr176

Slippers

Code:  es-176

Code:  es-55

Cavendish Banana – we can deliver to as far as Russia and Europe

Cavendish Banana origin Davao Philippines

(same quality as offered by big brands)

Week 15 price:

Class A 456 hands (big hands) = US$7.70/13.5kg box

Class A 789 hands (small hands) = US$6.10/13.5kg box

Price change without prior notice.

We have an experienced delivering to as far as Russia and Bulgaria.

You may inquire directly at denissalvatierra@yahoo.com

Delicious Sweet Banana from Davao Philipines

There are lots of brands out there.

These are just some of the known brands.

We offer OEM or we can allow buyer’s brand/label to be printed on the box and fruit sticker.

Rest assured that you will be satisfied as we supply same quality with known brands at a lower cost.

Our difference is obviously in its distinct delicious sweet taste.

You may contact me for more details at denissalvatierra@yahoo.com

For your assurance that I am sincere, we can meet with buyer’s-importer’s representative.  Below are the actual operation photos (from plantation to packing house).  I am willing to visit buyer’s office and can bring samples but I need  support by means plane ticket and initial budget as I need to pay the actual packed bananas and pineapple and for my basic allowance for my accommodations and necessities).  I believe I also need letter from buyer to present to immigration upon my arrival in country destination as proof that the items are for sample request (or buyer-importer can just shoulder the DHL cost).  With the samples, I am also willing to give presentation clear folder with documented photos and past shipping documents and my company details.  If there are things the buyer require as proof of my sincerity, kindly mention so I can comply.
As we can also facilitate other products from Philippines, I need to know what among which is needed.  The best way to lower cost is through minimal investment or joint venture with me.  The current pricing now is at its highest rate but will normalize to low soon.  If you are interested, rest assured that I will be supplying KNOWN BRAND QUALITY as my team are former workforce and plantation source of one particular known brand.
Note:  my sincerity goes beyond my words.  Rest assured that I do extra mile and after sales service.
Let me know what you think.  I am willing to provide breakdown and or/or feasibility study and business plan for your assurance that I am sincere to you.  Below is the actual plantation location and facilities used depending on bulk of requirement (I personally took the pictures)


The plantation is as far as your eyes can see and 1 week is not enough to tour the area.
Note:  We do not own the plantation but we are in partnership with a reliable legal cooperative.
Below are small type of packing facility for spot buys:
Below are bigger facility we lease for regular volume buyers:











Below is the continuation in the packing operations:






Below are the type of pallet.  If buyer wants his/her order to be palletized, added charges is required.
We also facilitate offer pineapples and other products from Philippines
You can email me at denissalvatierra@yahoo.com
pls click to link below for our joint-venture proposal:
http://fyi09.wordpress.com/2012/02/15/banana-import-export/

Banana Import Export

Business Venture Proposal

Product:
My primary offer is Cavendish Banana origin Davao Philippines, for export to countries in Europe, Middle East Region and Asia Pacific. I already exported to Bulgaria, Iran, Dubai, Kuwait, Bahrain and Egypt.  I aspire to work for you and export to Singapore, South Korea and China as it is nearer than Europe and Middle East. Proof of my past deals are available upon request.
Introduction: 
I already established an outsourced team in Davao and they function efficiently even though I administer remotely.  As Singapore is very near Philippines and is consider the hub for commodity trading, I can easily monitor shipments and payment by just having my needed home office with computer and communication gadgets.  I have two brother Singapore (software Engineer and Civil Engineer).  Rest assured that they will assist in any way they can but I need to either joint venture or work in Singapore.

Business Model:
Trading Company with sales-admin office in Singapore, export operations in Davao Philippines
Why in Singapore?  … Singapore is strategically located near our target countries in Asia Pacific and Davao Philippines and declared by World Bank as the cheapest place to set up a business. As such, it will surely be cost effective as the Sales-Admin office will only be set-up at the proponent’s rented flats-residence (No need to rent an office space in a corporate building).
fyi.  An Investor/Joint Venture Partner need not invest large amount right away on this business as I will capitalize on buyer’s down payment.  I can accept whatever can be given as support as initial investment.   
Revenue Model:
- Direct Sales Offer
- Join Trade Fair
- Continue Existing Operational Facility in Davao Philippines
- Sales Office in Singapore (near Davao Philippines)
Cavendish Banana Export Business Outlook:
The Philippine banana industry is the 5th largest export industry in the country and the 2nd biggest in Mindanao. In terms of local tax contribution, the banana industry remitted about PhP389 million worth of local taxes in 2008, including Business tax, Real property tax, Residence Certificates of Employees, Withholding tax of employees, Withholding tax at source, and Income tax.
The Philippine banana export industry is the 3rd biggest in the world and the only Asian country among the top 5.
The local industry is not spread out around the country; rather, it is concentrated in Mindanao, the southernmost island among the three main islands of the Philippine archipelago. Beginning in the 1960s in Davao del Norte, the industry has now spread in eleven (11) provinces in Mindanao with some 50,000 hectares of farmland used for planting bananas. In 2008, about 150 million boxes (each box weighing a gross of 14 kilos) were exported to the industry’s main markets, which are: Japan, Korea, HongKong, New Zealand, Brunei, China, Singapore, the Middle East, Indonesia, Russia and Canada. Some of the export-quality bananas are also sold in the Philippine market.
Reference/Excerpt from:  Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association website
Income Potential:
This business is capable of earning twice within a period of 1 year, 2.5 times that within 2 years and 3 times that within 3 years due to increasing demand. Although India is the number one exporter (may be because of lower price offer), main advantage of our offer is its taste and quality and it is widely favored in many countries.  Feasibility and/or Business Plan is available upon request by an Investor
Proponent
**has been into this business since 2007, with more than 15 years in the corporate business sector.  The company is named in the Philippines… “Sembawang Trading” after it went to Singapore on 2005.  He was mentored by a Singaporean.

The Company
Sembawang Trading initially acted as a go-between agent for the importers and exporters. 

Ownership
Sole Proprietorship (proposed to joint venture with an Investor to re-register to Corporation)

Mission
- Reliability to our customers
- Consistency in our service
- Profit enhancement for our
  shareholder’s benefit
- Social benefits to people
  we work with and churches
  we are supporting

Vision
Philippine Cavendish Banana Cultivation and Export, the Singapore way
Proposed Brand/Label:

Available upon request
Growth Strategy

Manageability
The proponent is mature and creative enough to handle complex projects.  The company is very much  flexible and with its venture partner and local team to hand the operations, it can work-out shipment demanded by it clients.
Costs
The price may vary depending on specification requirement, season, and terms.  Nevertheless, this business has its ways to provide rational evaluation of costs.


Competitive Advantage
·  Highly Competitiveness
·  Visible
·  Sincere
·  Offer lower cost of product/s
· Customer care from start to after sale
· Initiate shipment monitoring and risk management
 
Competition
Competition in this line of business is very slim as the market is global.  Nevertheless, the expectation is very high (export standard) so this business sets its mission in reliability, consistency and profitability to be very focus on customer satisfaction simultaneous with partner cooperation and shareholders’ contentment.  Otherwise, the buying client can easily look for other supplier.

Claims

I am into facilitating export of Cavendish Banana, Rice and other products since 2007 and  above van photo was one of my latest shipment.   Unfortunately due to unexpected circumstances,  the arrival of van was delayed and the ordered item turned out as total loss (vessel’s fault) as per below actual photos provided by 3rd party outsourced inspector (consignee’s).

To avoid large amount of expenses related to fees to be charge by claims lawyer’s and/or insurance underwriter, I was the one ask to handle and the result was quite effective and satisfactory.  This is not the first as my services was also tapped in line with a claim involving an importer with request for refund to his supplier/seller.

I am open to same task if an importer has claims issues.  But I need required documents and reports to be effective on my task.  Below  are the steps I will undertake for you:

1. I will act as your authorized representative (I definitely need notarized Authorization or Special Power of Authority)

2. Contact the contact Shipping Line Customer Service and negotiate the desired claims amount

3. Coordinate with the consignee/buyer’s contact surveyor if necessary (for the written report and photos required)

4. Mitigate cargo loss

I believe I am effective because I follow the tried Claims guide and I personally meet with the right contact persons.  I also develop my own Claims template and require my consignee client to comply with required documents and complete reporting.

My assistance are open to those who needs my services.  I can be reach through my direct email:  denissalvatierra@yahoo.com

The Singapore Way

I went back to Singapore recently and I was glad that I saw the amazing infrastructure again. Singapore is trully the hub for commodity trading and the cheapest place to establish a business, as per reported by World Bank.  Below are my actual photos

Philippine Products Consolidation

As there are so many Filipinos in most countries of the world, demands for Philippine products are increasing.  This must be the reason why I recently got request to deliver Pinoy grocery products to Dubai or UAE.  The request is 20ft container.   I affiliated my self with one of the biggest supermarket supplier in the Philippines to offer best lowest price.   With this development,  I was inspired to come up with a website so client will just chose their requested product.  But I have to admit that the website is still in still under construction.  Never the less, if someone is interested with Philippine grocery products, I could be reach through my direct email:   denissalvatierra@yahoo.com

 

Low Cost Commodity Trade Investment

I am facilitating export deal since 2006 after I learned commodity trading in Singapore through a Singaporean mentor. Since then, I was able to facilitate shipments of Cavendish Banana, Pineapple, Rice and other products for export mostly in Middle East countries.  I am also utilized in  feasibility/business plan making and other consultancy.

I guess my main capital are my sincerity and extra-mile service offer to my inquiring clients mostly from Middle East, Europe and Africa.  Of course my more than 10 years experience in the corporate sector and earlier background in Advertising is an edge as well.   As I am known  already by many buyers/importer,  my existing client is ordering asap for 1 – 20ft container load of  Philippine products (consolidated).   I was glad because my client order not only because of price but because they trust me.  Proof of past deal is available upon request.   I am excited because my client also orders Cavendish Banana and Pineapple in40ft container per fruit

- 13.5kg packing for banana with 1,520 boxes per container

- 12kg packing for pineapple with 1,560 per container

Click below for offer details for Cavendish Banana

https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B-YQSw-FAasYYjZmZDMxYWMtNGFmNS00YjRjLThhZDItNWJjM2FjZjAwZGIy&hl=en

Click below for the offer details for Pineapple

https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B-YQSw-FAasYNGYyNDhiYTctZmRhZS00N2ZhLWE4NGUtNTUyNDhhY2RiOGZk&hl=en

With my affiliation to direct manufacturers and farm-growers, I was able to quote lower price.   I can earn more but I need immediate financial assistance from an Investor or joint venture partner to finance the shipments and for my minimal operational expense requirement.    Pls refer to below link for the product offer website I am now doing (still in progress but an be viewed already)…

https://sites.google.com/site/homegrownphil/

Added to my service is a personalized monitor website where my clients can check on their orders and shipments schedules in the convenience of their own internet cellphone or laptop or PC wherever they are or whenever they want to check.  They could even check in even on a car or on plane.  Pls click to link below for sample site I intend…

https://sites.google.com/site/trademonitorboard/

This business is very lucrative with less capitalization requirement and controlled risk.   Rest assured that I will earn already earn after the first shipment.  But I need at least 3-5 shipments or after the repeat order to pay back my joint venture partner or investor his/her return on investment.  I am willing whatever it take or sign a contract but below amount to start right away…

US$1000 = first shipment 20ft container to Dubai (Philippine grocery products) plus registration and banking requirement for opening a corporate account), with potential order of Cavendish Banana and Pineapple.

**As I will ask for at least 50% down payment to buyer-importer (full payment against valuable/shipping documents), I am willing to accept less in the meantime.  Nevertheless, it will better if I get more as I need to pay the supplier and customs broker in advance to get the container and speed up the shipment with reliability and minimal risk.

I am willing to provide Business Plan if investor/joint venture will require.  Nevertheless, better if I will be given advance amount to immediately ship the needed 1-20ft container destination Dubai.  I can be contact directly at denissalvatierra@yahoo.com

Risk Management in Import-Export

This business is definitely profitable, but without someone monitoring and filing important details and documents related to your trade leads is risking a lot of money and may end up in losses and waste of time.  

As  import-export deals are very important,  I developed my online monitoring and paperless filing services system through a website I will dedicate for you and your trade leads.  Per my experience in this business, I could not believe how many are scammed or cheated because importers or exporters are too busy considering the importance of risk management via simple yet very crucial… monitoring and filing.
Many are learning their lessons the hard way.   For importers to avoid waste of time and money,  one should not rely on  low price offer for both products and logistics.  It’s their decision but most of the low price offer means unreliable performance in service or product quality though their is an agreement.   Another thing is someone should monitor.  With the widespread cheating in the trading world, there’s nothing anyone can do if importer is not aware of possible circumstances if he/she is not managing the risk. No one can brings back the past to correct it but I think I can prevent further damages or losses through my e-monitoring system I personally developed per my care to importers and clients.
With my services and system, I will basically serve and support importers in risk management, monitoring and reminder in matters related to updates, ETD/ETA, due dates and cut-off of needed payment, valuable documents e-filing, reminders and countdown, and basically all details and filing needed.  Such will spare my clients from losses of much money and waste of time.  Nevertheless, I need the cooperation of both importers and exporters for the needed information to support them effectively and efficiently.   My system is paperless filing and efficient reminder where ever the client is, whenever he wanted to check on his trade.  
I desire to collaborate with Maersk as we recommend them to our client, especially to delicate fruit import-export.
I have to admit that I am at mystart-up stage and seek Investor for the needed computer systems and manpower and establish a full blown global servicing company monitoring import-export logistics trade leads.  If Maersk will invest on me, clients will have the monitoring support they needed and it means added profit and investment for Maersk.
If you are interested, you may email me directly at denissalvatierra@yahoo.com

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