Moscow – Even before the ink dries up in the Philippines – Russian Federation Agriculture Agreement signed here yesterday between the ministers of agriculture of both countries, an outlet which would showcase the best products the Philippines could offer will be opened in Moscow.
Russian Federation Agriculture Minister Alexandr Takchev promised to help the Philippine Department of Agriculture find an ideal location for the proposed Philippine Agri-Aqua Products Outlet.
During the signing ceremonies of the Agricultural Cooperation Agreement between the Russian Federation and the Philippines in the Ministry of Agriculture offices in downtown Moscow, Takchev also invited the Philippines to participate in the huge Autumn Food Festival of the Russian Federation scheduled Oct. 20 to 24.
In the bilateral talks between the Philippines and the Russian Federation yesterday, Minister Takchev expressed his country’s interest in exporting wheat, sorghum, meat and farm machineries to the Philippines.
He also expressed willingness to assist the Department of Agriculture in finding sources for sophisticated equipment which would help the Philippines in guarding its vast fishing grounds.
I told Minister Takchev that the DAF is interested to buy at least two patrol helicopters and long-flying drones to guard the vast Philippine Rise and the West Philippine Sea from foreign fishing vessels poaching in our waters.
Among the Philippine products that the Russian Federation is interested to buy the Philippines are fisheries, fruits, coconut oil and other processed products, palm oil and processed food.
After the signing yesterday both countries agreed to immediately form teams which would inspect each other’s processing facilities to fast track the start of the trading of goods.
The Russian Federation, as announced by President Vladimir Putin, has pledged to President Rody Duterte that it is ready to buy $2.5-billion worth of agricultural products from the Philippines over the next 12 months.
Minister Takchev is scheduled to visit the Philippines before the end of the year to call on President Duterte and to meet with the pillars of Philippine Agriculture and Aquaculture.
(Photos of the Philippines-Russia Agriculture Bilateral Meeting taken by Bong Piñol, DA-OSEC.)
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