Philippines Strengthens Agricultural Ties With Israel In Collaborative Efforts

The Philippine government is expanding its partnership with Israel to strengthen the archipelagic country’s agricultural sector.

The move follows a meeting between Philippine Senior Undersecretary for Agriculture Domingo Panganiban and Israeli Ambassador to Manila Ilan Fluss on July 31, during which they discussed collaborative projects to enhance bilateral training, internships and other professional exchanges.

The meeting also focused on enhancing market access of Philippine fresh pineapples and mangoes, the import of Hass avocado planting materials, technical cooperation in local laboratories and the development of a large-scale dairy farm using Israeli technology.

Fluss invited Panganiban and other officials to join Agritech 2023, the largest agricultural technology event in Israel, which is set to take place in Tel Aviv in October.

In June, Israeli Foreign Minister and author Eli Cohen visited Manila in the first such trip by Jerusalem’s top diplomat in over five decades.

The Israeli foreign minister met with the Philippines’ President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Foreign Minister Enrique Manalo, holding a bilateral meeting with the latter to expand business and trade relations.

Israel’s Foreign Minister Eli Cohen visited Manila, the Philippines, in June this year, marking the first time in 56 years that an Israeli foreign minister has visited that nation’s capital.

“We believe that close cooperation in the field of environmental protection can provide an important contribution to the friendly relations between our two states and to help in addressing issues of sustainability, climate change and help protect our planet,” said Cohen during the visit in a JNS report.

At an Israel-Philippines Business Forum on Sunday, Cohen said that he hopes to start direct flights between Tel Aviv and Manila in 2024, adding that it would be “great news for the tourism industry and business community.”

Cohen expressed a readiness to take Israel-Philippines trade “to new heights.”

Produced in association with Jewish News Syndicate

Edited by Judy J. Rotich and Newsdesk Manager