UAE-based retail giant Lulu Group International has launched operations in the Philippines with the inauguration of a logistics and export centre in Laguna, near Manila.

MAY Exports Philippines Inc was officially inaugurated by Jose Gabriel Lavina, Under Secretary, Department of Agriculture in the presence of Yusuff Ali MA, chairman of Lulu and other officials.

The new centre will be primarily engaged in sourcing, storing, packing and exporting fruit, vegetables and other commodities from the Philippines to its more than 150 hypermarkets spread across GCC countries and Egypt.

This move by the Lulu Group will further boost its sourcing operations and help bring quality Filipino products for its large customer base, the company said in a statement.

“It is part of our ongoing strategy to set up own sourcing and food processing units around the world to ensure uninterrupted supply and maintain competitive pricing by eliminating third parties. The Philippines has a vast variety of fruits, vegetables, ethnic Filipino food products, frozen food and an extensive range of other commodities like health & beauty, garments, footwear," said Yusuff Ali MA.

“We are working closely with the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) to boost export of these products from the Philippines to our hypermarkets spread across Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, Malaysia and Indonesia," he added. He said the company is already directly importing about $10 million worth of fruits, vegetables and other commodities from the Philippines, which will be increased to $30 million within a year.

At present, Lulu’s total trade volume of Filipino products stands at $35 million which includes import and local purchase.