The Philippines is seeking to strengthen agricultural trade with Egypt, following a bilateral meeting where Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. and Egyptian Ambassador Nader Nabil Zaki discussed wider market access for high-value Philippine fruits, particularly mangoes and bananas.
The June 5 meeting was part of the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) broader push to diversify export markets and tap into strategically located, fast-growing economies like those in North Africa.
“They already granted us access for durian. We are hopeful they will do the same for our mangoes and bananas,” Tiu Laurel said.
In return, the Philippines is finalizing a Pest Risk Assessment (PRA) and food safety analysis for Egyptian grapes and ware potatoes. There are also plans to explore imports of Egyptian garlic and onions, and technical cooperation on these commodities.
Both sides acknowledged strong potential for mutually beneficial growth in agri-food trade, aligned with consumer demand and seasonal supply cycles.
