Agriculture Secretary William Dar led the Philippine delegation in the opening ceremonies of the 41st Meeting of the ASEAN Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry (AMAF) on October 15, 2019 in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam.
Dar was joined by other ministers from Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and Brunei Darussalam, the host country for this year’s meeting under the chairmanship of Minister Dato Ali Apong of the Primary Resources and Tourism Ministry.
Gracing the opening ceremonies as guest of honor was His Royal Highness Crown Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah who acknowledged the presence of the ministers in the meeting.
“Your presence here signifies your commitment to the policy framework of the ASEAN cooperation in food, agriculture and forestry,” he said.
His Royal Highness Crown Prince hoped that the partnership that the ASEAN member-states have established over the years will continue and broaden the scope of cooperation to include greater areas of agriculture and forestry.
“I hope that this special relationship that we have including those with our industry and development partners will continue to flourish in the future,” said the Crown Prince.
The ASEAN cooperation in food, agriculture and forestry aims to formulate and implement regional cooperation activities to improve the region’s agriculture and forestry sector, enhance the international competitiveness in the region, and further strengthen the food security arrangement and joint positions in various international platforms.
Among the specific areas under the ASEAN cooperation in food, agriculture and forestry include food security, food handling, crops, livestock, fisheries, agricultural training and extension, agricultural cooperatives, forestry, and joint cooperation in agriculture and forest products promotion scheme. These are implemented through various cooperation projects.
Dar said that cooperation under AMAF is important to the Philippines as it was able to strengthen the existing bonds of solidarity and cooperation in the regions.
“For years, the ASEAN has provided the framework for Southeast Asian prosperity. It must continue to be open and outward looking, strong in its advocacy, innovative in its quest for equitable progress, and united against any threat or issue it must face,” Dar said. ### (Rita T. dela Cruz, DA Communications Group)
