The MOU seeks to promote bilateral cooperation between the two countries on capacity-building, technology advancement, agricultural trade, agribusiness, and knowledge-sharing
The Philippines and South Africa have proposed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Technical Cooperation in the Field of Agriculture. The MOU seeks to promote bilateral cooperation between the two countries on capacity-building, technology advancement, agricultural trade, agribusiness, and knowledge-sharing by conducting joint activities, projects, programs, and exchanges.
Domingo F. Panganiban, Philippine Department of Agriculture (DA) Senior Undersecretary and Bartinah Ntombizodwa Radebe-Netshitenzhe South African Ambassador to the Philippines discussed potential areas for agricultural cooperation that can help boost the two countries’ food production and economic success.
Since establishing diplomatic ties between the Philippines and South Africa in November 1993, the two countries have had a vibrant history of cultural, political and economic relations.
In 2021 alone, South Africa ranked 42 among 223 top trading partners and was the largest African trading partner of the Philippines, recording a total trade amount of $ 125.1 million.
The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported that the Philippines’ $ 85.5 million worth of export products to South Africa include desiccated coconut, tobacco, coconut oil and its fraction, mucilage and thickeners, carrageenan, preparations suitable for infants and young children, tobacco that were not stemmed-flue-cured, sauces and preparations, coffee extracts, essences and concentrates, and coconut concentrate.
On the other hand, the South African government mainly exported onion seeds, dog and cat food, fruit juice mixtures, undenatured ethyl alcohol, grape wine, peaches, a variety of juices, waters including mineral and aerated with added sugar, mandarins, and apple juice amounting to $ 39.6 million.
