The Department of Agriculture met with Italy’s ambassador and first secretary of Italy to discuss the agricultural trade between Italy and the Philippines, which increased by about 40 percent in 2021 but the trade balance is still in favor of Italy.
Agriculture Senior Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban met with Italian Ambassador Marco Clemente and First Secretary, Eugeniu Rotaru to discuss the agri-trade cooperation.
On the DA’s website, Panganiban discussed during the meeting the 40 percent increase in the agricultural trade between the Philippines and Italy last year with the trade balance in favor of Italy at US$19.42 million. Clemente assured strong support of his country to address the trade gap.
In line with this, Panganiban encouraged Italy to support Philippine tuna, pineapples, frozen fish meat, carrageenan, and desiccated coconut.
Philippine exports could be increased by organizing an exhibition in Milan and partaking in the Mercato Ortofrutticolo, the central market in Milan projected to be one of the largest fruit and vegetable marketplaces in Europe by 2025. Additionally, DA stressed the significance of potential tropical fruit exports to Italy, such as mangoes, pili, and coconuts.
Panganiban stressed the need to increase the volume of the Philippines’ exports to Italy as it is the headquarter of international organizations like the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. The United Nations (UN) FAO is a specialized agency that leads international efforts to end hunger, establish food security for everyone, and ensure that people have reliable access to sufficient nutritious food to live active, healthy lives.
Italy has been a critical ally of the DA in providing policy support and technical assistance in various areas that will help the country attain food security.
Meanwhile, to show the Philippines’ viewpoints on food security and other related concerns, the country’s delegation in Rome had been actively participating in all FAO conferences and sessions.
Italy and the Philippines will celebrate their 75th year of diplomatic relations in December 2022, demonstrating the strength of their bilateral ties.
Tags: #DA, #Phil, #Italy, #Trade