Secretary Emmanuel Piñol welcomed the newly designated Colombian Ambassador to the Philippines HE Victor Hugo Echeverri and outgoing Argentinian Ambassador to the Philippines HE Roberto Bosch during a courtesy call at the Department of Agriculture central office on March 6, 2018.

(top photo) Amb. Echiverri told the agri chief that a Colombian embassy to the Philippines is currently being established to further strengthen foreign relations between the two countries. The ambassador also expressed their interest to buy Philippine Tilapia. On his part, Piñol mentioned that a Colombian company has partnered with DA in designing a modern rice-processing complex. The facility will be established in M’lang North Cotabato.

(bottom photo) During Piñol’s dialogue with HE Bosch, the Secretary conveyed his sincerest gratitude to the ambassador for his contribution in the drafting of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the Agricultural Cooperation between the Philippines and Argentina, assistance in the coordination for the DA livestock experts visit in the model cattle farms in Esperanza, as well as his offer to assist in the development of a technical assistance project on grain storage and drying technology for the Philippines.