Summary of the Terminal Evaluation
Ⅰ．Outline of the ProjectCountry: Republic of the Philippines

Project: Improvement of Packaging Technology for
Philippine Food Products in the Region

Sector: Livelihood improvement （empowermentof the poor） / support of small and medium
enterprises

Cooperation scheme: Technical cooperation

Division in charge: Philippine Ofﬁce

Cooperation amount: 396.50 million yen

Period ofcooperation

Partner country’s implementing organizations:
Department of Science and Technology
Packaging R&D Center

Jun. 2005 to Jun. 2009 (4 years)

Supporting organizations in Japan: none in particular
Related cooperation:
1-1 Background to and outline of the cooperation
In the Philippines, small and medium enterprises（SMEs）in the food industry constitute one of the sectorsthat contribute the most to the national economy. Around 2000, when a project was requested, the SMEs in
the food industry accounted for more than 40% of gross regional domestic product（GRDP）in thePhilippines and offered jobs especially in rural areas. However, the growth and development of food SMEs
have been hampered by poor packaging and a short storage period. Although large food processing
companies in urban areas, such as Metro Manila, can introduce state-of-the-art packaging technology, many
food companies in rural areas have difﬁculties in acquiring packaging information, technology, and materials
and cannot fully meet demands from domestic supermarkets and standards in importing countries.
To meet rural food companies’need for packaging technology, the Department of Science and Technology（DOST）established the Packaging R&D Center in 1999. Although PRDC’s technical support service hasreached a certain level, there is immediate necessity to strengthen PRDC’s human capacity and facilities tomeet rural SMEs’further needs related to packaging.
In this situation, the Philippine Government requested the Japanese Government to give technicalcooperation in improving PRCD’s human capacity for the improvement of rural food SMEs’packaging
technology. Responding to this request, JICA dispatched a survey mission, consulted with the Philippine
persons concerned, and decided to carry out a JICA technical cooperation project that was to be implemented
with initiative of PRDC, entitled“Improvement of Packaging Technology for Philippine Food Products in
the Region”（hereinafter referred to as this“Project”）.
1-2 Contents of the cooperation
To improve the packaging technology of rural food SMEs in the Philippines in particular, JICA gave
technical cooperation to improve PRDC’s skill in improving packaging technology and to improve its
ability to hold consultations with clients who visit PRDC to seek consultation about packaging technology
support.

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（1）Overall goal
The rural food SMEs that are PRDC’s clients will improve the marketability of their products in thedomestic and export markets.
（2）Project goal
PRDC will enhance its capability to improve its packaging technology services for rural food SMEs.
（3）Outputs
1. Improvement of PRDC’s capability to formulate an activity plan, monitor the activities, and control
information for the management of this Project
2. Strengthening of PRDC’s skills and knowledge about appropriate packaging technologies
3. Improvement of PRDC’s skills and knowledge about appropriate package and label designs
4. Improvement of PRDC’s capacity to hold seminars for dissemination and motivation, workshops,
and corporate consultations for the support of rural food companies’introduction of appropriate
packaging technologies（4）Inputs（at the time of evaluation）
・Japanese side: total amount of inputs: 390 million yen
1） Short-term experts（14 persons）: team leader, package engineering, project management planning,business management, group coordinator, retort packaging（1）（2）, dried food packaging, CAP/
MAP（Controlled Atmosphere Packaging / Modiﬁed Atmosphere Packaging）, MAP packaging,structural packaging design, transport packaging, graphic design, mechanic technology, operational
coordination（the total number of man-months is 51.90 MM.）2） Provision of equipment: 130 million yen
3） Training of counterparts in Japan（11 persons in total）: consumer packaging, graphic design,
project management, transport packaging, dried/semi-dried food packaging, MAP packaging
4） Payment of local cost: none
・Philippine side:
1） Placement of counterparts: 27 persons in total
2） Offices and facilities: offices and equipment for this Project（including the cost of maintaining
facilities）
Ⅱ．Outline of the evaluation teamTeam
members

Supervisor: Mr. Kenzo IWAGAMI, Deputy Resident Representative of JICA Philippine Ofﬁce
Cooperation Planning: Ms. Kumiko KASAI, Project Formulation Advisor of JICA Philippine
Ofﬁce
Evaluation Analysis: Ms. Kazumi UENO, Consultant Manager of Overseas Merchandise
Inspection Co., Ltd.
Evaluation Analysis: Mr. Rey GERONA, Local Technical Coordinator of JICA Philippine Ofﬁce
Evaluation Assistant: Mr. Pablo LUCERO, Program Ofﬁcer of JICA Philippine Ofﬁce

May 20, 2009 to June 5, 2009
Periodof theevaluation

Type of evaluation: Terminal evaluationxiv

Ⅲ．Outline of the evaluation results
3-1 Conﬁrmation of the achievements（1）Degree of achievement of outputs
Output 1: Improvement of PRDC’s capability to formulate an activity plan, monitor the activities, andcontrol information for the management of this Project
Indicator 1: Regular monitoring of each packaging technology group’s activities is to be introduced by
the project team by February 2008.
PRDC’s annual activity plan was formulated with Japanese experts’guidance and suggestions. The
2008 version contains the activity plan for the support of food SMEs, the goals to be achieved, monthly
schedules of activities, and all the target foods. As shown in the status of achievement of Indicator 3, thisProject has been carried out according to the annual activity plan through regular monitoring.
Indicator 2: The integrated database on services provided by PRDC is to be put into use as a management
information system by December 2008.
Because, in addition to eight types of existing databases, a database for consulting service has beendeveloped, nine types of integrated databases have been used as a part of the management information
system.
Indicator 3: More than 80% of the planned activities are to be implemented by the end of this Project.
Although some activities are still not carried out, such as training in Japan concerning contaminants ofpackaging materials, all the other activities have been completed as planned.
Therefore, it can be said that Output 1 is likely to be achieved.
Output 2: Strengthening of PRDC’s skills and knowledge about appropriate packaging technologies
Indicator 1: An implementation plan for technical transfer is to be formulated every year by the projectteam.
The formulation and implementation of the annual activity plan for each year were conﬁrmed.
Indicator 2: Three staff members of PRDC are to become able to apply high-barrier packaging
technology or dried/semi-dried food packaging technology to food in the Philippines by June 2009.
Three staff members of PRDC received training on high-barrier packaging and applied the technology to
packaging technologies for cashew nuts, small dried sardines, brownies, bread, etc. It was confirmed
during this evaluation that the food SMEs that received consultations were satisﬁed with the service.
Indicator 3: Three staff members of PRDC are to become able to apply MAP technology to fresh cut
vegetables by June 2009.
Three staff members of PRDC received training on MAP technology and conducted a demonstration
experiment using fresh cut lettuce and pineapple. It was planned that the technology is to be applied tomushrooms and pomelo（a type of citrus fruits）in the future.

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Indicator 4: Three staff members of PRDC are to become able to apply retort technology to various typesof food packaging by July 2008.
Three staff members of PRDC received training on retort packaging and developed a procedure fordemonstration experiment to apply the technology to various kinds of food. The technology was applied
to corn, cassava cake, chicken barbecue, rice cake, sausage, etc.
Indicator 5: Five staff members of PRDC are to become able to design corrugated cardboard boxes fortransport packaging of fresh fruits by June 2009.
Five staff members of PRDC received training on transport packaging and improved their ability todevelop the design of transport packaging. They applied guidance by the use of CAD software and asample maker to develop a design of transport packaging for strawberries and have been carrying out ademonstration experiment at a market in Benguet. In addition, they also developed transport package
designs for mango and banana.
The technology transferred through Japanese experts’training resulted in the strengthening of PRDC’s
technical capability. PRDC has independently applied the technology to local food packaging and utilized
it for services to rural food SMEs. Therefore, it can be said that Output 2 has already been achieved.
Output 3: Improvement of PRDC’s skills and knowledge related to appropriate package and label
designs
Indicator 1: The implementation plan for technical transfer is to be formulated every year by the project
team.
An annual plan has been formulated every year and activities have been carried out according to the plan.
Indicator 2: Four designers of PRDC are to develop two high-quality packaging designs by June 2009.
Many of the packaging designs developed by PRDC have already been commercialized（such as thosefor cashew nuts, coffee, and pancakes）.
Therefore, Output 3 has already been achieved.
Output 4: Improvement of PRDC’s capacity to hold seminars for dissemination and motivation,
workshops, and corporate consultations for the support of rural food companies’introduction of
appropriate packaging technologies
Indicator 1: PRDC staff members are to become able to provide appropriate consultation on foodpackaging technologies at PRDC and locally by June 2009.
At PRDC and locally, the PRDC staff provided consultations on retort packaging, MAP packaging, highbarrier/active packaging, and other food packaging technologies, provided information on transport
packaging and brand development, and carried out safety tests for packaged food.
Indicator 2: PRDC staff members are to become able to provide appropriate lectures on food packaging
technologies at local seminars by June 2009.

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Although PRDC staff members provided lectures only on the basics of packaging and compulsory
labeling before the implementation of this Project, they became able to provide more comprehensive
lectures at seminars, because brand development, graphic design, packaging technologies, and transport
packaging were added to the lecture contents after the implementation of this Project.
Indicator 3: 80% of the participants in local seminars will evaluate improvements in lectures, workshops,
and consultations compared with 2005, by June 2009.
As a result of the addition of MAP packaging, active packaging, transport packaging, contaminants ofpackaging materials, printing technology, brand development, etc. PRDC’s local consultations andseminars became more substantial, resulting in an increase in the number of inquiries from rural SMEs.
In addition, many seminar participants have continued to use PRDC’s services and receive consulting
from DOST’s packaging coordinators, resulting in an increase in client satisfaction.
Therefore, it can be said that Output 4 is highly likely to be achieved by the end of this Project.
（2）Degree of achievement of the project goal
The implementation of this Project resulted in expansion of the range of PRDC’s services, the provisionof which then resulted in clients’increasing use of new packages. It also resulted in expansion of SMEs’
channels for sales of goods and their markets, leading to an increase in sales and attaining of the highlevel of customer satisfaction. Therefore, as explained below, it can be said that the project goal has
almost been achieved.
Indicator 1: The range of PRDC’s technology services that meet rural food SMEs’needs is to expand by
25% by the end of this Project.
The range of PRDC’s services at the time of the terminal evaluation has already doubled from the
beginning of this Project（the number of clients also increased from 110 in 2005 to 258 in 2009）.
Comparison of the range of PRDC’s services before and after this Project
Rural SMEs’problems

Services before this Project

Services added during this Project

Poor packaging andinsufﬁcient information-

Packaging technology development
Evaluation of nutrition
Technical support for retort packaging
Paid packaging service
Enlightening seminar on packaging andlabels- Provision of non-brand packaging
materials and containers-

MAP packaging
Retort packaging service
High-barrier packaging
Transport packaging
Package contaminant test
Additional paid packaging service
Training and seminar on packaging
technology

Short storage period--

Compression test
Oxygen permeation test
Moisture permeation test
Tension test
Film identiﬁcation by DSC/FTIR

Freshness date test
Drop test
Vibration test
Closeness test
Moisture permeation test
Friction test
Elution test
Package and label

xviiUnattractive appearance- Label design- Evaluation of compulsory labeling

Difﬁculty in procurementof packaging materials- Package design- Graphic design training- Philippine-style design development- Short-time printing by digital printerIndicator 2: Food SMEs that are PRDC’s clients are to show client satisfaction of 80% or moreconcerning PRDC’s packaging technology services by the end of this Project.
PRDC had already begun client satisfaction surveys before the beginning of this Project. In general,client satisfaction has remained high. According to the five-grade comprehensive evaluation by 22companies between February and May 2009, 17 companies graded it at“5（very excellent）”and 5
companies graded it at“4（very satisﬁed”）.
（3）Process of implementation
1）Philippine side’s ownership
To manage this Project smoothly, the Philippine side provided necessary inputs, such as maintenanceexpenses, facilities, and counterparts.
DOST not only placed and budgeted counterparts but also repaired PRDC’s main building, laboratories,
a pilot plant for storage of supplied equipment and other buildings. In addition, DOST locally procured
packaging materials essential for demonstration tests and the development of packaging technologies.
2）Relationship between Japanese experts and counterparts
Japanese experts and counterparts developed a good relationship by positively exchanging suggestions
and opinions about the status of progress in this Project and the implementation in the future at quarterly
meetings for reviews of activities and by contriving devices for communications and consensus formation
through mutual understanding.
3-2 Summary of the evaluation results（1）RelevanceThe relevance of this Project is high.
1）Consistency with the Philippine Government’s policy
In the Medium-Term Philippine Development Plan（2004 to 2010）, SMEs are considered a driving
force for national economic development, and their development is a priority policy issue. DOST
provides technology services and financial assistance for the support of SMEs under the SmallEnterprises Technology Upgrading Program（SET-UP）. In addition, in the SME Development Plan
（2004 to 2010）, the Department of Trade and Industry（DTI）regards the improvement of packaging
technologies to be an important factor for the development of SMEs. Therefore, the goal and contents ofthis Project are consistent with the policy.
2）Consistency with Japan’s ODA policy
In the country assistance program for the Philippines（August 2000）,“strengthening of industrial
structure”is one of the priority issues concerning assistance to the Philippines. In addition, because thedevelopment of rural SMEs leads to the strengthening of the basis of industrial structure throughexpansion of product markets, stabilization of the local economy, and creation of employment, thexviiiimportance of these types of assistance has been pointed out. Because the purpose of this Project is toimprove access to markets for SMEs, which account for most of the Philippine food industry, through thetransfer of technology related to R&D of food packaging technology and the dissemination andmotivation of packaging technology among rural SMEs, this Project is consistent with the priority
assistance issues in the country assistance program.
3）Consistency concerning the target group
PRDC is a public agency that provides rural food SMEs with consultations, technical advice, andseminars on packaging technologies. Because PRDC’s capacity building is essential for satisfying
SMEs’needs related to packaging technologies, PRDC strengthened its technical capacity through thisProject. As a result, PRDC has become able to provide technical advice and training that satisfy rural
SMEs’needs.
It can be said that a total of 27 counterparts assigned to this Project had academic backgrounds andexperience appropriate for the provision of packaging technology services. For example, staff members
experienced in studying fine arts participated in the design development team; those experienced instudying food engineering and chemistry participated in the retort packaging team; and those experienced
in studying mechanical engineering and chemical engineering participated in the transport packaging
team. Their participation contributed to smooth technical transfer.
Therefore, this Project is consistent with the target group’s needs.
（2）EffectivenessBecause all the outputs contribute to the achievement of the project goal, the effectiveness of this Projectis high.
1）Probability of achievement of the project goal
As an indicator for the project goal, the range of PRDC’s services has doubled compared with the state
before the implementation of this Project（the indicator expanded by 25%）. Client SMEs’degree ofsatisfaction with PRDC’s services is“3（satisﬁed）”to“5（very excellent）”of the 5-grade evaluation.
The companies which the mission visited seemed highly satisfied. Although some activities, such as
training in Japan, had yet been carried out at the time of the evaluation, the goal is likely to be achievedat the end of this Project.
2）Each output’s contribution to the achievement of the project goal
During the course of this Project, PRDC gained knowledge and experience necessary for the
improvement of rural food SMEs’packaging technologies through the following activities:a）PRDC’s ability to manage this Project was strengthened through Japanese experts’support for theformulation of plans and the creation of the business information system.（Output 1）b）PRDC acquired skill and knowledge on new packaging technologies through experts’guidance andthe use of equipment.（Output 2）c）PRDC’s skills and knowledge on package design were strengthened through Japanese experts’technical guidance and the introduction of equipment and were applied to practical product development.
（Output 3）d）PRDC staff’s consultation and on-site activities were strengthened through Japanese experts’advice
and guidance.（Output 4）xixe）The management ability strengthened by Output 1 and the technical abilities strengthened by Outputs
2 to 4 improved the counterparts’ability to satisfy rural SMEs’needs.
（3）Efﬁciency
The efﬁciency of this Project is somewhat high.
1）Timing of input of experts and equipment
At the very beginning of this Project, some errors in management and technology occurred due to a delayin the dispatch of Japanese experts and a language barrier. After that, however, those problems weresolved through full mutual consultation.
Although the implementation of this Project was influenced by a delay in the procurement of someequipment, the delay was eliminated through the adjustment of the schedule by both the counterparts andthe experts. The equipment supplied under this Project has been appropriately and efﬁciently used for
PRDC’s research and development and provision of services.
2）Training of counterparts
The training in Japan was very useful for PRDC’s activities.
（4）Impact
This Project was recognized as having positive impact.
This Project has been contributing to the expansion of the markets for the products of the food SMEs thatare clients of PRDC. Because the companies to which PRDC gave support have improved theirpackaging, domestic and overseas markets have already expanded.
1）Visibility of PRDC services
The visibility of PRDC’s capabilities to research and develop packaging technologies and design
packages has increased as a result of this Project. Because the level of PRDC’s packaging technologies
is high, the United States Food and Drug Administration（USFDA）and other food quality certiﬁcation
agencies have recognized its international competitiveness.
Pouch-packed sardines have already begun to be exported to Eastern Europe, North America, and the
Near and Middle East. If the export is successful, it is expected to trigger the expansion of markets forother Philippine foods.
In addition, PRDC was commended for its retort packaging technology and package designs at
exhibitions, which made it possible for PRDC to display its capabilities both at home and abroad.
2）Expansion of packaging technology services through improvement of laboratory facilities
The equipment supplied under this Project has increased PRDC’s ability to provide the packaging
technology services（such as lending of facilities to SMEs for trial product test and short-time printing oflabels by digital printer）. Moreover, package design facilities were improved so that designers canprocess photographs and illustrations.
3）Cooperation with related agencies
Local DOST packaging coordinators who received training from PRDC are in charge of packaging andlabeling, and many SMEs have understood the importance of packaging technology, contributing to thecreation of internationally competitive products.

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PRDC has been recognized as the only agency that provides package designs to the SMEs supported
under the partnership program of the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry's Center forInternational Trade Expositions and Missions（DTI-CITEM）. PRDC also cooperates with the
Department of Trade of Industry Bureau of Export Trade Promotion（DTI-BETP）and the local ofﬁcesof DTI. Moreover, there are three paid packaging technology service centers, for which PRDC cooperates
with local governments in the dispatch of staff members and the provision of technical guidance.
（5）Sustainability
The sustainability of this Project is somewhat high from the viewpoints of organization, finance, andtechnology.
1）Organization
Although PRDC is considered a temporary agency of DOST, there is a plan to make it an official
department in the near future. In addition, if the staff assignment plan is approved, 11 contract employees
among the counterparts will be promoted to regular employees, and the budget will be allocated as
general expenditure instead of subsidies. Although two of PRDC’s staff members who received training
under this Project left their jobs, other staff members were recruited soon after. Therefore, it can be said
that human resources have been secured stably.
The three local paid packaging technology service centers in the Philippines were established in 2004 forthe purpose of accelerating the local development of packaging technology and teaching packaging
technology to rural SMEs through the transfer of some of PRDC’s services to DOST’s local ofﬁces.
They function as the hub between local governments and PRDC in each region and contribute to ensuring
the sustainability of this Project.
2）Finance
PRDC’s ﬁnancial resources for research and development of packaging technologies have been secured
by DOST. According to the results in the past six years, the budget has recently been on an upward trend.
At the time of the terminal evaluation, service charges collected by PRDC accounted for 10% of PRDC’s total budget. According to PRDC, the expansion of services is expected to increase the ratio to morethan 10%. Also because the budget plan is estimated to be on an upward trend in next ﬁve years, thesustainability of this Project can be expected from the viewpoint of ﬁnance.
3）Technology
PRDC can continue to research and develop packaging technologies and inherit and expand knowledge
and skills internally. In addition, PRDC strengthened its ability to use its technology for client service.
Therefore, it can be said that the sustainability of this Project has been secured from the viewpoint oftechnology.
3-3 Factors for the emergence of the effects（1）Factors related to the contents of the plan
None in particular（2）Factors related to the process of implementation
1）Provision of equipment to PRDC: This is helpful for not only PRDC staff’s capacity building but
also actual services to SMEs.

xxi2）Training in Japan and practical training by Japanese experts: Practical training by lecturers with richpractical experience was helpful for grasping SMEs’needs and providing technical advice andguidance. PRDC is trying to succeed and expand the knowledge and experience gained through thetraining in Japan within PRDC.
3）PRDC’s ownership and coordinating capability: Because local procurement of packaging materials
essential for demonstration tests and the development of packaging technologies were carried out
based on the budget secured independently by PRDC and the cooperation with cooperative
organizations, PRDC has been recognized as having high ownership and the coordinating ability to
involve other stakeholders effectively.
3-4 Problems and related factors（1）Problems related to the contents of the plan
Full understanding of PDM indicators and baselines: Project management meetings were held regularly
between PRDC and the Japanese experts, and the activities and the progress were monitored according tothe overall implementation plan based on PDM. However, because discussions on indicators and thebaselines were insufﬁcient, expressions and deﬁnitions became ambiguous and hard to measure. Becauseof this, the indicators for the overall goal have been changed in this evaluation study.
（2）Problems related to the implementation process
Period of absence of Japanese experts in the ﬁrst year: Although the schedules for technical guidance andthe procurement of equipment were delayed, the delay was eliminated through efforts by both PRDC andJapanese experts. Concretely, Japanese experts and counterparts held quarterly meetings to review the
progress in this Project, to exchange suggestions and opinions about the implementation of this Project in
the future, and to contrive devices for communication and consensus formation through mutual
understanding. As a result, the two parties created a good mutual relationship, which led to smoothmanagement of this Project.
3-5 Conclusion
Given the results of the project evaluation based on the ﬁve evaluation items, it is estimated that the project
goal, including each of the outputs, will be achieved by the end of June 2009, when this Project ends.
Although the training of the counterparts is scheduled for mid-June and some activities, such as support for
SMEs’improvement of packaging technologies and the commercialization of products, have yet to be
carried out, it is expected that all activities will be completed by the end of June 2009.
Although the Japanese experts with high expertise contributed to the success in this Project, the factor that
contributed most to the successful management of this Project was the counterparts’active participation inthis Project and strong ownership. Needless to say, for PRDC, which was established to provide global
standard packaging technologies, this Project served as the pillar for the counterparts’motivation andactivities. In the future, the related Philippine agencies are expected to make further efforts to maintain anddevelop the achievements gained through this Project and attain the overall goal.

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3-6 Recommendations（speciﬁc measures, suggestions, and advice related to this Project）
To improve PRDC services further, the following recommendations are given to the related agencies in thePhilippines:
PRDC• PRDC should research new packaging technologies and maintain and improve the technical power
through research and training in cooperation with related agencies and others.
• To secure the impact and sustainability of this Project, PRDC should strengthen the cooperation witheach government office’s regional offices, local governments, the paid packaging technology service
centers, etc.
• PRDC should provide market-oriented and competitive services, such as high market growth, highimpact R&D, strengthening of the package design capability, and improvement of facilities at the paid
packaging technology service centers and others.
• PRDC should continue to enhance the integrated database so that it can be used as a management
information system.
• To increase the visibility of PRDC services and the degree of achievement of the overall goal（expansionof markets for products of food SMEs）, PRDC should enable laboratory facilities to gain a third party’sinternational certiﬁcation so that they can objectively prove international competitiveness（such as theInternational Association of Packaging Research Institutes（IAPRI）, the International Safe Transit
Association（ISTA）and ISO17025）.
DOST• DOST should take continuous budget measures to manage PRDC and maintain equipment.
• DOST should approve PRDC’s shift from a temporary agency to an ofﬁcial department to secure thesustainability of its system and organization.
3-7

Lessons learned（matters that serve as reference materials for the discovery, creation, implementation,and management of similar projects derived from this Project）（1）Utilization of PDM for project management• Collection of baseline data
Although meetings on project management are held regularly between PRDC and the Japaneseexperts, and the activities and the progress were monitored according to the entire implementation
plan based on PDM, because discussions about indicators and baselines were insufficient,
expressions and deﬁnitions were ambiguous and hard to measure. Because of this, the indicators forthe overall goal were changed for this evaluation study. If baseline data are not collected, it isnecessary to include them in the project plan.
• Setting of clear and measurable indicators
Although PDM was used as a tool for smooth project management and was altered when needed,because discussions about indicators and baselines were insufﬁcient as described above, expressions
and deﬁnitions were ambiguous and hard to measure. It is extremely important to introduce at an
early stage of the project a process of fully discussing and sharing clear and measureable indicators
among the persons concerned in this Project.

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（2）Selection of Philippine evaluation team members
Because two of the three members of the Philippine team for the terminal evaluation had participated in
the Philippine team for the mid-term evaluation, concrete discussions could be held about the issues at
the time of the mid-term evaluation, the changes in this Project from the time of the mid-term evaluation,
etc.
Because as a part of DOST’s everyday work, one of the members made a project evaluation within thedepartment, comments could be gained from both institutional and financial viewpoints. Because theother member was a consultant who had experience in working in the packaging industry, discussions on
SMEs’problems and the direction of the industry could be held from technical and practical viewpoints.
Because the evaluation team has to make a study in a short term, the selection of local evaluation teammembers who can give adequate advice and ideas from institutional, financial, and technical aspects
seems to contribute to improvement in the efﬁciency of the study.
3-8 Follow-up
Although PRDC’s capabilities for packaging technologies as a whole were strengthened through thisProject, because it is necessary to contribute to the target sector through the cooperation specialized inpackaging technology for transport of farm products, a request for the“Packaging Technology Improvement
Project for Strengthening the Competitiveness of Farm Products”is now under consideration.

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