In recognition with the strengthening bilateral cooperation and trade in agriculture between the Philippines and Hungary, and in compliance with the directive of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to engage non-traditional trading partners, Secretary Emmanuel F. Pinol met with the Minister of Agriculture of Hungary, H.E. Dr. István Nagy, on 27 March 2019 in Manila.
Under a friendly atmosphere, they discussed the promotion of trade and investment in agriculture, market access concerns, and the proposed cooperation in the field of crop and livestock biotechnology research, food safety and agricultural mechanization.
One of the highlights of the meeting is the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Department of Agriculture of the Republic of the Philippines and the Ministry of Agriculture of Hungary on Cooperation in Agriculture.
Secretary Pinol shared that that MOU will reinforce the positive engagements between DA and the Ministry of Agriculture. A Joint Working Group will be formed that will monitor the implementation of the MOU.
Both sides have also agreed that there is a big potential for the improvement of trade in agriculture between the two countries.
The Philippines would like to further diversify its exports to Hungary by exporting high-value coconut products, fishery products, fresh mango, fishmeal, copra-meal and seaweed-based animal feeds, carrageenan and abaca.
“I made a commitment to bring products, including our coconut oil, syrup, because we are promoting those,” said Secretary Pinol.
“The Hungarian minister said that among the items that they need are fruits particularly our mangoes, pineapple, bananas,” he added.
The Hungarian side, on the other hand, is planning to increase its exports of poultry meat products to the Philippines.
Moreover, Piñol also welcomed Hungary’s offer of its advanced technologies for water purification.
“They have a formula of ensuring that water can be absorbed greatly by the soil. It’s a pump they have invented,” said Piñol
The Secretary said he is happy that Hungary is also offering their technology on clean water
“We are more than happy to provide the Philippines and [its] government the technologies as well as the tools available,” Hungarian Minister Nagy said. . ### (Kuhlin Ceslie Gacula/DA – Press Office)
