PHL, UAE boost agri cooperation
ABU DHABI—THE Philippines and the United Arab Emirates, represented by Ambassador Hjayceelyn M. Quintana and Assistant Undersecretary Noora Karam of the latter’s Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on agricultural cooperation on June 27.
“As we grapple with the effects of climate change and international conflicts on our food security, this MOU on agriculture [brings the engagement between our countries] in this area of cooperation at a higher level,” said Quintana. “The Philippines, being one of the countries most affected by climate change, views the signing…as timely and relevant, as it paves the way for a joint committee, where officials of the Philippines and the UAE will set directions for cooperation in soil science and management, biotechnology, postharvest, agriculture research and development, agri-innovation, protected agriculture technology, irrigation
and water resources.”
The MOU provides a strong framework for the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to work with UAE as a partner in the Middle East for agricultural innovation, especially as the new Chief Executive will be the concurrent agriculture secretary, who indicated a strong focus on the sector.
The agreement will build upon complementarities between the Philippines and the UAE, each having different climatic conditions and equipped with unique and specific areas of specialization that can be applied toward providing solutions in agricultural production for the benefit of both countries, as well as set the stage for maximum exploration of the huge potential for growth in agricultural cooperation.
The importance of the UAE to the Philippines in agricultural terms is vital, as the emirates was the latter’s largest market in the Middle East for agricultural food products, with exports amounting to almost $94 million in 2021.