BOI: Tuna firm expands facility in General Santos to boost exports

A P120M expansion project of General Tuna Corporation (GTC) in General Santos City will help boost the country's tuna exports in Asia, according to the Board of Investments (BOI).

BOI approved last week the registration of General Tuna, an export producer of frozen tuna loins with an annual capacity of 374,727 cases or 7,495 metric tons (MT). The company will produce tuna loins (choice cut portions of tuna) and export these to Thailand, Japan, and the Middle East.The project will start its commercial operations in February 2013 and is expected to generate 350 jobs.

GTC is presently engaged in manufacturing and exporting private label canned, pouched and frozen tuna products. It serves as the export arm of food and canning giant Century Pacific Group. The company moved to General Santos, the country's tuna capital, because of its proximity to other tuna fishing grounds in the Pacific Ocean.

The GTC tuna project also involves building of additional loading and stock rooms and acquisition of equipment such as blast freezer, hot water sprayer, and other facilities to sustain tuna production.

The Philippine tuna industry contributes 4% to the country's gross national product. Industry data showed that the Philippines ranks seventh among the top 3 tuna producing countries in the world in fresh/frozen tuna and canned tuna.

Philippine exports frozen and canned tuna reached US$284,254M in 2011, industry data showed.

Production and manufacture of export products is one of the main concerns of the BOI's Investment Priorities Plan 2012 (IPP), the country's blueprint for investment promotions. Aside from production of marine products, other exports covered by the IPP include electronics, garments and textiles, footwear and leather goods, furniture, jewelry, and mineral products among others.


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