More about Joseph Calata

At such a young age, Joseph Calata, the CEO of one of the Philippine's biggest corporations, has already fulfilled his dreams because of his business. It is nearly unimaginable that a corporation producing millions of revenues in a year started out as a small family enterprise distributing feeds, fertilizers, and agricultural products in the humble town of Plaridel, Bulacan.

Climbing to the top was never easy for this young millionaire as he worked his way up a step at a time. In 2001, he joined the family business which was then named J. Melvin, as a clerk. He took over the highest post in the company after proving that he deserves the post. The successful entrepreneur, owing it to his background in financial management, decided to increase the distribution of goods to Central Luzon and Pangasinan.

Joseph Calata thought of integrating technology and research in agriculture, and led the company to a higher level. By 2006, figures have grown to P806 million, reached P1.08 billion in 2007 and P1.6 billion in 2008 before he changed the company's name of the corporation. In 2009, the company has reached P1.8 billion in revenues, which made him, who was just 29 years old then, the country's youngest CEO, and was featured in BizNews Asia and Business World's Top 1000 Corporations. High-efficiency poultry farming, private airplane leasing, and trucking are the other industries ventured by the corporation. The corporation, at present, prides itself with 200 workers.

During his interview with the People Asia Magazine in March 2011, he has been very vocal that making an investment in the agricultural sector is a great way to empower one of the deprived sectors of the Philippines. The passionate businessman, who has always been very active in discovering new ways to develop the agricultural sector of the Philippines, said, "While it may not be the most alluring of sectors for businessmen, I believe agriculture holds great potential to boost the Philippine economy."

Just like any other public figure, Joseph Calata went through some issues when he was appointed at a government post. Critics questioned his credibility to hold the position. After President Benigno Aquino III took over the presidency; he was relieved from the position and the controversies ended.

Joseph Calata boasts its rapid increase of revenues since 2004. This is all because of the hardwork and persistence of the young CEO of Calata Corporation, the biggest distributor of agro-chemical products, fertilizers, feeds, in the Philippines.

-Alison Ward