Department of Agriculture (DoA) Emmanuel Piñol gave assurance that the plan to build a massive banana plantation in Mindanao can still push through with the right investors.
French-Russian businessman Robert Gaspar already backed out of the plan as per Agriculture secretary Piñol.
Although the controversial businessman is now out of the conversation, Piñol is still confident in the realization of the planned 5,000 to 20,000-hectare banana plantation that will be located in Camp Abubakar which is the main base of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
Russian companies supposedly represented by Gaspar maintain interest to invest in the banana plantation in Mindanao only this time they are using proper channels and being aided by the Russian government.
A Philippine delegate is set to fly to Russia by the end of February aiming to secure investments and bigger market for some of our country’s agriculture products like coconut oil and banana. This, according to Piñol, will penetrate the huge and previously unexplored market not just of Russia but also other member countries of the Russian Federation.
Although Piñol refused to give too much details, it was still disclosed buy the DoA secretary that a deal is expected between the Philippines and a group of Russian companies.
It was initially reported that the Swiss-based mining firm Solway Investment Group, one of the companies Gaspar was apparently representing, will venture into the agriculture sector and invest in the banana plantation in Camp Abubakar.
The corporate communications team of Solway acknowledges its affiliation with Gaspar but denies news of expansion and from just mining, adding agriculture in its investments in the Philippines.
Gaspar was later revealed to be wanted for financial scam in Spain through old news reports of European publications naming him as one of the right-hand men of Kremlyoskaya gang which is the biggest gangster in Europe involved in money laundering.
The Russian Ambassador to the Philippines Igor Khovaev clarified that Gaspar is not Russian. Piñol, on the other hand, did not comment regarding him initially defending Gaspar reminding that his agency only wants investors for the Philippines.
