The meeting of Ambassador Jana Šedivá with Secretary of Agriculture of the Philippines H.E. Emmanuel Piňol focusing on finding new platforms for partnerships. Czech Embassy is already implementing number of projects, using various instruments of Czech Official Development Aid. Ambassador pointed out the strengths of the Czech agricultural industry in agro-mechanization, technologies for diary plants and animal industry.

Czech Ambassador informed the Secretary that the Czech Republic has a long tradition in production of agricultural products and technologies that can be beneficial to the consumers in the Philippines. It is our hope that the increased cooperation sealed by the Agreement on Economic cooperation will include comprehensive cooperation in agriculture. The goal of the increased cooperation is to provide technological and effective processes for agricultural production to all provinces of the Philippines. At the same time we understand the importance of environmental protection and the need to provide solution that will be in line with current priorities of the Department of Agriculture.

It was mentioned that Czech companies are also traditionally strong in food and beverage sector, where the demand for healthy alternatives can be met with competitive prices for example in oatmeal snacks or buttermilk and whey powder. More than half of our agricultural export is focused on whey and other diary  products,that traditionally play an important role in our agricultural export and we are pleased to use that expertise in our project coordination, however agricultural technology and machinery can as well become very competive in the Philippine market. It is encouraging to see that the traditional exporters in the agricultural industry are slowly penetrating the market.  The largest producer of tractors Zetor, entered the market only late last year and first tractors should arrive to Manila this year.

Secretary Piñol appreciated the work of Czech NGOs in strengthening the Filipino agriculture and the feasibility studies that have already been completed in the fields of water treatment and diary value chains.