PARTNERSHIP. Department of Agriculture Secretary William Dar (right) and Egyptian Ambassador to the Philippines Ahmed Shehabeldin meet online on Monday (June 7, 2021). They discussed a possible agricultural exchange. (Photo courtesy of DA)
MANILA – The Department of Agriculture (DA) is in talks with Egypt to open up market access for Philippine products.
DA Secretary William Dar welcomed new Egyptian Ambassador to the Philippines Ahmed Shehabeldin in a virtual meeting on Monday and discussed plans for an exchange of goods between the two countries.
“We are enthusiastic to further open up and hoping that both sides will benefit, and look at every opportunity where we can really open more market access between two countries,” Dar said.
Both are eyeing future cooperation for the promotion of products such as desiccated coconut, tuna (prepared and preserved), bananas (fresh and dried), and coconut oil.
Dar said the exchange will boost agricultural development and provide food processing and logistics support to the planned agri-business corridor in New Clark City in Tarlac.
Near the end of 2019 or before the Covid-19 pandemic struck, the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) visited Egypt’s production areas and processing and packing houses of specific crops, such as citrus and grapes, as part of the risk assessment process.
The work plan for the entry of Egyptian citrus has been prepared by BPI through its National Plant Quarantine Division.
The documents have been submitted for review by Egyptian authorities.
Shehabeldin assured Dar that Egypt will look for ways to nurture the bilateral relations with the Philippines, especially "in aspects involving agriculture". (PNA)
