A player in the packaging industry is seeking the Marcos Jr. administration’s further backing for their sector to be at par with its counterparts in Southeast Asia.

In an ambush interview during the launch of the 5 ProPak Philippines at the World Trade Center, Pasay City on Tuesday, Commissioner Joseph Ross Jocson, president of the Asia Packaging Federation, stressed that the reason why Thailand has better packaging with their main product, Durian, is that their government has full support in their packaging sector.

“We hope that the government could provide better focus in our industry, although we have enough. Medyo kulang pa. Our packaging center here is way behind what Korea or Thailand is having. Therefore, we are lagging in terms of design and packaging,” he said.

He said the packaging of the country’s banana fritters is not enticing, that is why those products cannot reach the export market.

“We have to (really) upscale our packaging design, the packaging of our products. The industry cannot do it alone and we need the help of the government, particularly the additional budget for the Department of Trade and Industry and Department of Science and Technology,” Jocson stressed.

“Multinational companies can upscale, but how about the MSMEs? That’s the only way MSMEs could avail of the government’s services,” he added.

Propak 2025

The 5th ProPak Philippines, the annual international processing and packaging trade event for food, beverage, pharmaceutical, and fast-moving consumer goods, is set from 12 - 14 February 2025 at the World Trade Center.

Since 2019, ProPak Philippines has been the main trade event, facilitating technology transfer, and connecting manufacturers and business owners of all levels and sizes with the most suitable technology, machine, and equipment for food, beverage, pharmaceuticals, fast-moving consumer goods manufacturing, and packaging.

The 2025 edition is expected to bring over 250 industry-leading exhibitors and brands from the Philippines and over 30 countries to meet with over 12,000 trade visitors, buyers, and stakeholders — welcoming MSME, SME, and multinational corporations alike to find solutions for consumers and market demands: from new product development, new and sustainable packaging designs, sustainable processing innovation, and new food safety regulations.

The international presence is strong in 2025 by having companies such as Wolf, Multivac, Middleby, and Heat and Control from Japan, Germany, and the USA and international pavilions from Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Taiwan, China, and Italy — with highlights on IPACK-IMA Italy -Informa Markets strategic partnership — these country pavilions will bring their most advanced & suitable processing and packaging technologies to the Philippines.