MANILA – Czech President Petr Pavel has announced that he would send a business delegation, led by Czech Agriculture Minister Marek Výborný, to the Philippines next week, Malacañang announced Friday.
The upcoming visit is in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s bid to expand cooperation with the Czech Republic in terms of food security, Communication Secretary Cheloy Garafil said in a statement.
“Czech Agriculture Minister Marek Výborný is set to visit Manila next week, eyeing to establish cooperation that would support the food security initiatives of the Philippines,” she said.
Garafil said Výborný is expected to meet with Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel and lead a business forum in Makati on March 21.
She added that the Czech official and business delegation would also visit Davao on March 22 for a business forum and a farm visit at the Tagum Agricultural Development Company, Inc.
In a joint press conference with Marcos after their bilateral meeting in Prague Castle, Pavel said Czech businessmen who would visit the Philippines are interested in investing in agriculture and other key sectors.
“Very soon, our Minister of Agriculture shall visit the Philippines with a numerous delegation of our businessmen with specific, particular plans to offer,” he said.
“We also have companies that are involved in defense industry, manufacturing, in farming and agriculture, science, technology, energy sector, power sector. Many of these businesses do have particular specific plans for the future cooperation with the Philippines.”
The Czech Republic is one of the Philippines’ partners that provided assistance in analyzing and improving value chains in the Philippine dairy industry.
The Czech Aid-for-Trade granted the National Dairy Authority’s (NDA) proposal to fund the technical exchange of experts, in line with the DA’s five-year program to raise milk production in the country from 1 percent to 10 percent.
The NDA completed two projects in cooperation with the Czech Republic – the expert assistance on the in-depth analysis of the supply chain of the Philippine dairy industry undertaken in 2018 and the strengthening of the capacities of dairy farmers and extension workers project undertaken in 2019.
The Philippines and the Czech Republic established their formal diplomatic relations on Oct. 5, 1973.
The Czech Republic ranked as the Philippines’ 39th trading partner, 28th export market, and 47th import supplier in 2022, with total bilateral trade amounting to USD303.21 million. (PNA)
