Department of Agriculture (DA)officials have met with executives of the Binh Dien Fertilizer Joint Stock Co. in Vietnam to explore areas of cooperation in a proposed manufacture of fertilizer in the Philippines.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. led the delegation, noting the benefits of the Vietnamese fertilizer giant’s presence in the country to help increase farm output.
“We see great potential in partnering with Binh Dien. Our country stands to benefit significantly from their advanced technology and expertise in agriculture,” said Tiu Laurel in a statement.
The DA chief said Binh Dien could start as a distributor initially and later to the transfer of its technology and eventual investment in a manufacturing facility in the Philippines.
“We have high expectations following our visit to Binh Dien’s factory. Their management and technical team’s expertise is impressive and much needed in the Philippines,” Tiu Laurel said.
Binh Dien is Vietnam’s leading producer of NPK, a mixture of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in fertilizers. It has several factories with a combined capacity of 1 million metric tons or 30 percent of Vietnam’s fertilizer requirements.
Vietnam is a major exporter of rice and currently the Philippines’ main source of the staple.
Secretary Tiu Laurel said Binh Dien sees the Philippines as a strategic opportunity to expand internationally.
There is potential for both countries to benefit from sharing technologies, he said.
