The Department of Agriculture (DA) is eyeing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Malaysia on advancing cooperation on agriculture.
DA Senior Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban and Dato’ Abdul Malik Melvin Castelino bin Anthony, Malaysia’s newly-appointed ambassador to the Philippines, on Monday discussed how the two countries can enhance their partnership on agricultural trade and cooperation.
The DA said the officials expressed interest in building joint ventures that will encourage more trade and investment in Filipino produce such as meat and meat products, halal products as well as high value fruits and vegetables.
The parties also discussed potential collaborations on research and knowledge sharing in fisheries, aquaculture, mariculture and rubber industries.
DA said the Malaysian ambassador expressed hope the signing of the MOU will be done during President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s state visit to Malaysia for the 45th Meeting of the Asean Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry scheduled this year.
Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed the country’s agricultural exports to Asean-member countries in the first quarter amounted to $165.42 million or 5.8 percent of the total value of exports to the region.
alaysia was the top buyer of agricultural exports from the Philippines worth $52.58 million or 31.8 percent of the total value of agricultural exports to Asean member countries for the period.
