Expect Changes from the Entrepreneurs; A Little from the Public Sector/Policy Makers

Our generation needs an ENTREPRENEURIAL REVOLUTION.

The prevailing mindset is that progress and changes can come from the public sector leaders.  Thus we see many politicians winning on the basis of change/innovation platform.  And what happens next?  Does change become a reality?   Very little or none.  And yet we fall for it so many times.  We never get tired of being allured and led to believe that the new standard bearer can change our lives.

In the public sector, we must be made aware, everything is governed by rules and laws; which we all know are difficult and even impossible to change.  Just look at constitutional change.  So with bad habits and archaic laws comes decadence or status quo.

Mr Antonio Tiu, CEO of ANI who graduated MPA from UP was advised by his professor to go to the private sector, because change can only prosper in that sector.

The government may have run of ideas on how to solve the country' s problems;   even if some people do, they find the exiiting system too difficult to navigate/overcome to effect change.  Do not blame Pres Obama or Pnoy if they failed to deliver.  But Pizza Hut can;  if it cant, you get the pizza free.

Only entrepreneurs can effect change and innovation:   new products,. new solutions, new processes, new wealth, new satisfaction, new systems, new inventions,  We study entrepreneurship because the government is also powerless to solve many of the problems of the country and society.

Thus I saw social entrepreneurs in Kowloon having Street Sleepers Foundation inc having beddings for street people.  How long will it take for Congress to legislate something for street people

Being a Public Servant

The Mayor of Angono said that the real job of public official is to be a Chief Janitor in the case of a mayor.  It is practicing servant leadership.

It is a question I asked Councilor Bong Suntay, owner of  Basic Taxi, Clean Fuel, an emerging player in the energy market.  Although he helped a lot of drivers and many people find gainful employment, still he ran for councilorin Quezon City.  I asked why still do that?  Mr. Antonio Tiu of ANI said the government has ran of options/solutions regarding our country's socialal and economic problems.  So why still do it

ANI, "From Farm to Plate"

Our guest entrepreneur at the Middle Management Program last Monday June 6 was Mr. Antonio Tony Tiu, chairman CEO AgriNurture Inc.  ANI which is tagalog word for ANI, has for its mission statement, "from farm to plate"  ANI makes over a million sales annually.Tony who is a DLSU graduate, and MPA from UP (he also holds masters degree in intl finance in Australia, started out with the humbling job of liquidation sales of about to be folded up post harvest equipment business. They did so well selling the equipment, that instead of folding up, they decided to continue the business, the precursor of ANI.

ANI markets under the brand name FCA and sells and distributes fresh fruits and vegetables to wet markets and SM, exports fruits to all parts of the world most especially China.  They did well after the Japan radioactive scare.  But ANI thrives on a business model that balances the desire of producers to get more value for their produce and for consumers to pay less. Farmers in China get 90% value for their produce, 65% in Japan in Korea, and only 45% in the produce.  Why is this so in the Phil?  There is so much loss post harvest (40% and so much meddling from middlemen and even from those who serve and protect along the highway-  the kotong cops.  ANI has been able to reduce post harvest losses to l5% - quite an achievement.

Some of their products:   fresh fruits and vegetables tamarind, fresh buko juice hybrid rice, brown rice

Listings:   PSE (they are the only  publicly listed agricultural company at PSE and Australia stock exchange

Some key points from Tony:

l. Be motivated by your sense of Mission.  Its not about anymore about making money for yourself, but for the farmers and food security.

2.  Food security will be a great problem which the government must address now.  We will have a rice shortage.

3 Mindanao holds a lot of promise for food production and and processing.  The peace and order situation must be addressed however.

4.  The government does not have all the answer, or must have run out of strategy to solve poverty and other problems of the country. The private sector and the entrepreneurs can.  The entrepreneurs are the answer to our problems (Dr. Ciel Habito shares the same view in his economic briefing Eagle Watch the following day.

5.  Inventory planning for fresh produce:  You maintain a database of what sells and what does not sell.  You deliver to the outlet what sells.  Period

6.  An enterprise constantly creates value by reducing costs, no matter how small, and finding new uses for its products/facilities.

7.  ANI thinks global and is doing global business now.  They do not have enough resources to cover all of China.  They can serve only coastal cities

8,  If you help/serve the farmers, you help l/3 of the total Philippine population and another 1/3 indirectlly.

9.  The problem of farmers is access to credit.  That is why they have Agricultural Bank of the Phil which lends farm inputs instead of money to the farmers.

One of the truly amazing entrepreneurs I have met.  With a deep sense of social responsibility.  A man with a burning mission Who has touched many lives.  We need more like him