Cotabato City – The second Project Board Meeting of the Bangsamoro Agri-Enterprise Programme (EU-BAEP), a collaborative initiative funded by the European Union (EU) and implemented by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), was successfully held in Cotabato City on February 20, 2025.
The meeting brought together key stakeholders, including representatives from the EU Delegation in the Philippines, UNIDO, and the Bangsamoro government, with participation from the Agricultural Training Institute - Regional Training Center XII (ATI-RTC XII).

Ms. Simona P. dela Cruz, CDMS Chief and Training Specialist III, and Ms. Jovellena B. Simbulan, Technical Staff represented ATI-RTC XII during the meeting.

The discussions focused on reviewing the programme’s 2024 achievements and setting the direction for 2025, with a strong emphasis on advancing inclusive agribusiness development in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

In his opening remarks, Mr. Datu Hamsur Zaid, Chief of the Agricultural Market and Assistance Division (MAFAR) and EU-BAEP National Project Director, emphasized how the programme has strengthened institutional capacities across the region. Ms. Myrto Christofidou, Programme Officer at the EU Delegation, commended the initiative’s inclusive and impactful approach in fostering collaboration among communities, authorities, and the private sector.

The board recognized significant progress made in 2024, including the training of 45 staff members from BARMM institutions and Halal Certification Bodies, along with 11 personnel from supported laboratories. These capacity-building efforts saw a high participation rate of women and resulted in substantial improvements in technical skills.

Additionally, the selection of agribusiness beneficiaries was conducted transparently and inclusively, ensuring close coordination between the EU-UNIDO BAEP and BARMM entities. The programme also successfully identified agribusinesses and established shared processing facilities aimed at enhancing local enterprises’ capacity and expanding market access sustainably.

Looking forward, the 2025 work plan was presented, highlighting goals to further develop BARMM’s capacities through sustainable initiatives and strengthen agri-fishery value chains by focusing on targeted skills development in food safety and compliance with international standards.

This initiative continues to drive meaningful progress toward strengthening the agribusiness sector in BARMM, fostering economic growth and sustainable development in the region.