Czech minister forges local agricultural ties
AGRICULTURE minister Marek Výborný of the Czech Republic, who was accompanied by a 40-strong business delegation, recently visited the Philippines for a series of meetings with local officials to discuss agricultural cooperation.
The Czech Embassy in Manila, in partnership with the Czech Chamber of Commerce and the Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic staged the “Czech-philippine Agribusiness Forum 2024” in Makati and Davao on March 21 and 22. The Czech companies presented their solutions for the brewing industry, dairy production, meat processing as well as other related agriculture industries.
In his keynote address, Výborný stated his belief that “the rich and diverse participation in today’s forum may result [in enriching and boosting the cooperation, especially in the sectors that we represent here, which are agriculture and food. I would be extremely glad for our partners from the Philippines to perceive this as a clear signal of our interest] in strengthening our contacts with local partners.”
The Czech minister of Agriculture also paid a courtesy visit to the University of the Philippines and discussed with the institution’s president Angelo Jimenez potential research and university collaborations in forestry, tropical and subtropical agriculture, as well as in water management.
The visit to Manila culminated in a two-way meeting with Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., as the dignitaries signed a “Letter of Intent on Cooperation in Agriculture and the Food Industry.” Both agreed to boost their ties in veterinary issues, livestock production, aquaculture, as well as dairy production.
Discussions also extended to food production and its related technologies, water management for agriculture, and fostering scientific research exchanges.
According to the Czech Embassy, the minister’s visit emphasized a commitment to enhance mutual trade and economic relations in the agriculture and food industry sectors, while fostering stronger partnership among the universities and research institutions in the Czech Republic and the Philippines.