Manila: The Philippines remains optimistic about advancing 'sustainable' agricultural trade and strengthening its partnership with Cambodia to ensure food security and supply resilience, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said Wednesday. The statement followed a bilateral meeting between Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. and Cambodian Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries Dith Tina on Sept. 9, held on the sidelines of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s state visit to Cambodia.

According to Philippines News Agency, Tiu Laurel highlighted that Cambodian agricultural exports could help meet the Philippines' market demands amid the country's 'expanding population.' Among the key agricultural export goods are rice, fish, meat, and vegetables. The bilateral meeting was a step forward in implementing the agreement signed earlier this year by the Philippines and Cambodia on agricultural trade, cooperation, and knowledge transfer.

Dith Tina expressed hope to expand exports of Cambodia's premium aromatic rice to the Philippines, citing the increasing demand in Manila and other urban centers. As of Sept. 4, Cambodia accounted for only 2,430 metric tons (MT) of rice imports out of the country's more than 2.9 million MT total arrivals, with Vietnam remaining the Philippines' top rice supplier, contributing over 2.3 million MT.

Tiu Laurel assured his Cambodian counterpart that the Philippines is 'preparing to welcome' more agricultural products from Cambodia. In February, both countries entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Agricultural and Agribusiness Cooperation during the state visit of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet to Manila. The agreement aims to strengthen investments in Cambodia's agriculture, particularly in the rice industry, and explore possible trade in vegetables and meat, as well as training and technical exchange.