PRESS RELEASE
WDC-63-2026
23 October 2026
Embassy Press and Information Section
WASHINGTON, D.C. – San Miguel Corporation (SMC) was honored at the Inaugural “Global Friends of American Agriculture – Trade Excellence Awards” of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) at a dinner in Marshallville, Georgia, on October 14, 2026. SMC was among 11 companies from around the world recognized for their partnership and sustained interest in U.S. agricultural products as well as excellence in international agricultural trade.
In receiving the award on behalf of SMC Chairman and CEO Ramon S. Ang, SMC Foundation Executive Director Kin Lichauco highlighted that the company imports a lot of American soybean meal, wheat, corn, dairy and meat products due to their unparalleled quality, consistency and reliability. In 2026, SMC’s imports had a combined value of nearly US$370 million and, for some of these commodities, the US supplies bulk of the company’s requirements.
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins delivered the keynote remarks and bestowed the awards together with Under Secretary Luke Lindberg, the outgoing USDA Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs who will soon assume the position of World Food Programme (WFP) Executive Director. Other awardees are select companies from Australia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Indonesia, Japan Malaysia, Mexico, United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and Vietnam.
The event held at the Grand Magnolia House, a historic Georgia landmark, was also graced by Embassy and U.S. industry representatives and government officials, including Congressman Austin Scott, Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Tyler Harper, and Mr. Greg Ibach, the nominated USDA Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs. Agriculture Counsellor Lupiño Lazaro, Jr. represented the Philippine Embassy in Washington DC and the Philippine Department of Agriculture at the event.
-END-
PHOTO RELEASE
WDC-267-2026
23 October 2026
Embassy Press and Information Section
