PH-based Farm Konekt Expands Operations to Brunei Under BIMP-EAGA Initiative

PH-based Farm Konekt Expands Operations to Brunei Under BIMP-EAGA Initiative

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan — Farm Konekt, a Palawan-based agri-tech startup and farm management platform, is expanding its operations to Brunei Darussalam as part of its growing role in regional agricultural integration under the Brunei Darussalam–Indonesia–Malaysia–Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA).

The expansion was announced during a meeting held at the Embassy of Brunei Darussalam in Manila on July 28, 2023. The initiative forms part of Farm Konekt’s flagship project, the “Farm Konekt Agri-Tech Supply Chain Platform for BIMP-EAGA Markets,” which was earlier presented to regional officials, experts, and stakeholders during the BIMP-EAGA Strategic Planning Meeting in Bandar Seri Begawan in February.

Farm Konekt founder and chief executive officer John Vincent Gastanes said the expansion marks a significant step toward strengthening agricultural connectivity across the subregion. He noted that the next phase will focus on clustering services in Mindanao to support the development of a more integrated supply chain.

“This will allow us to connect trade routes from Palawan, Mindanao, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) to Muara Port in Brunei Darussalam,” Gastanes said.

He added that Brunei is expected to play a key role in processing agricultural products, particularly for its growing halal industry, before distributing them to partner markets within and beyond the region.

The Farm Konekt platform aims to address long-standing challenges in agriculture by linking smallholder farmers to markets, improving supply chain efficiency, and promoting digital integration across borders.

The project is among the Philippine initiatives facilitated by the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) that received funding support from the BIMP-EAGA–Korea Cooperation Fund (BKCF) during its second call for project proposals in 2022.

Officials said the expansion underscores the Philippines’ continued participation in regional efforts to strengthen food security, enhance trade, and support inclusive agricultural development within the BIMP-EAGA subregion.