The Department of Agriculture (DA) bared hopes on Wednesday of obtaining cooperation with Malaysia on agricultural activities.
The DA said this was discussed in a meeting on Monday between senior undersecretary Domingo Panganiban and Dato’ Abdul Malik Melvin Castelino bin Anthony, Malaysia’s newly-appointed ambassador to the Philippines.
According to the agency, the meeting focused on how the two countries can enhance their partnership on agricultural trade and cooperation as the officials expressed interest in building joint ventures that encourage more trade and investment in various Filipino produce such as meat and meat products, halal products as well as high value fruits and vegetables.
The parties also discussed potential collaboration on research and knowledge sharing in fisheries, aquaculture, mariculture and rubber industries.
DA said the Malaysian ambassador hopes that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will sign a memorandum of understanding to advance agricultural activity for both countries during his expected state visit to Malaysia this year at the 45th Meeting of the ASEAN Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry.
The country’s agricultural exports to ASEAN member countries in the first quarter this year amounted to $165.42 million.
Among ASEAN member countries, Malaysia is the top buyer of agricultural exports from the Philippines worth $52.58 million or 31.8 percent of the total agricultural exports to ASEAN member countries for the period.
