Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr.  and Argentina’s envoy to Manila, Ambassador Ricardo Luis Bocalandro, met recently to discuss ways to strengthen agricultural cooperation and partnership between the two countries.

During Amb. Bocalandro’s courtesy call, Secretary Tiu Laurel Jr. highlighted the Philippines’ interest in exporting mangoes to Argentina as well as using Argentine technology and machinery to improve local rice and corn production.

The Argentine envoy assured the agriculture chief that Argentina is ready to help the Philippines improve local agriculture and welcomes more shipments agricultural commodities from the Philippines, including mangoes.

The two officials also discussed other matters like trade and market access; technical cooperation projects, particularly on agricultural biotechnology, crop pest management, sugar, farm mechanization and digitalization; foot-and-mouth disease vaccines; and sustainable and value-added rice programs and fisheries.

Sec. Tiu Laurel thanked the Argentine diplomat for his country’s interest in Philippine agricultural products and its willingness to assist in modernizing local agriculture.

Amb. Bocalandro was accompanied during the courtesy call by deputy Chief of Mission Leandro Waisman and the head of the embassy’s Economic and Commercial Section Ana Clara Pianezza. Sec. Tiu Laurel Jr. was joined by Miguel Hornilla, director for South America of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Janet Garcia, Chief of the International Affairs Division of the Department of Agriculture. ###