MANILA, Oct. 14 (Xinhua) -- The Philippines and Brunei signed a new memorandum of understanding (MOU) to strengthen cooperation in agriculture and fisheries, marking a renewed push for regional food security, trade, and sustainable development, the Philippines' Department of Agriculture (DA) said on Tuesday.
The MOU, signed between the Philippines' DA and Brunei's Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism at the sidelines of the 47th ASEAN Ministers of Agriculture and Forestry meeting held recently in Metro Manila, outlines joint efforts in key areas such as agrifood trade, agro-biotechnology, aquaculture, and precision agriculture.
The Southeast Asian neighbors agree to collaborate on research, exchange expertise, and promote market access. Areas of cooperation include livestock and poultry development, disease prevention, high-yield crop technologies, and downstream processing in both agriculture and fisheries, the DA said.
Private sector engagement is also a focus, with both countries committing to facilitating agrifood investment and trade through information sharing, especially in sanitary and phytosanitary standards and market access requirements.
The MOU will take effect once both parties confirm compliance with their respective domestic procedures through diplomatic channels. ■