The Philippines and Pakistan are optimistic they could reach final deal by June next year on the allocation by the South Asian nation of at least 1 million metric tons rice to fill a quarter of Manila’s annual import requirement of the food staple.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. met on December 16 with Dr. Imtiaz Kazi, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Manila, to explore key opportunities to deepen agricultural trade ties between the two nations.

Ambassador Kazi underscored Pakistan’s growing role as the Philippines’ third-largest rice supplier, behind Vietnam and Thailand. And, in a bold move, he proposed committing 1 million metric tons of rice per year to the Philippines at a competitive price, signaling a strategic partnership that could reshape rice import dynamics.

The Pakistani envoy also proposed a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to cement this partnership, a suggestion that Secretary Tiu Laurel welcomed the proposal and expressed hopes of finalizing the agreement by June 2025.

Ambassador Kazi sought confirmation on the continuation of the reduced tariff on imported rice in general, which Secretary Tiu Laurel said could be extended until 2028, only if necessary.

Further expanding the scope of cooperation, the two officials discussed ways to diversify trade between the two countries. Ambassador Kazi urged the Philippines to explore exporting fresh produce like mangoes, bananas, and durian to Pakistan’s vast Muslim market, while Secretary Tiu Laurel expressed keen interest in learning from Pakistan’s advanced agricultural practices, particularly in irrigation, post-harvest technology, and Halal certification.

This engaging exchange highlights a mutual desire for deeper agricultural collaboration, with both countries poised to benefit from strengthened bilateral trade. ###