Manila, March 16 -- The Philippines is sharpening its pitch for agriculture to global investors, arguing that the sector should no longer be viewed merely as a development challenge but as a viable, bankable investment option.

At the ceremonial signing of the partnership for the Hand-in-Hand National Investment Forum 2026 held at the Asian Development Bank on Monday, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. framed the initiative as a shift in how the country presents its agri-fisheries industry to the global investment community.

The forum, organized with the Food and Agriculture Organization, aims to channel private capital into projects across farming, fisheries, and rural infrastructure-areas the government says hold significan...