Philippines, Cambodia eye rice talks
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The Philippines and Cambodia are exploring closer economic ties, focusing on rice production. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet invited Filipino businesses to invest in Cambodia’s rice industry, which has won the “world’s best rice” award six times. Discussions also covered potential partnerships in agriculture, manufacturing, tourism, and energy. A memorandum of understanding was signed to promote collaboration.
MANILA — The Philippines and Cambodia are strengthening economies ties with the visit to Manila of Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet. One of the topics discussed is a possible partnership on rice.
The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) and the Cambodian Chamber of Commerce organized the Philippines-Cambodia Business Forum in Makati.
The Cambodian Prime Minister invited Filipinos businesses to invest in their rice production to improve the rice value chain. He added that Cambodian rice is one of the best in the world.
“One such opportunity lies in Cambodia’s highest quality rice. Cambodia won the world’s best rice award six times since 2012 including at the International World Rice Conference in Manila last November. There is significant potential in deeper collaboration,” said the prime minister.
Philippine Trade Undersecretary Ceferino Rodolfo, who also spoke at the forum, said agriculture is indeed one of the sectors the two countries can cooperate in since Cambodia is a rice supplier, while the Philippines a rice importer.
“Cambodia has been actually an indirect supplier already of rice in the Philippines. It will be both to our advantage if we can establish more direct trade arrangements between the Philippines and Cambodia. Not just for rice, but for other agricultural products,” Usec. Rodolfo said.
PCCI President Enunina Mangio agreed saying the two nations can share best practices on agriculture. She said, “I saw their rice. It’s a long grain and the price is very cheap and that is what we need.”
No timeline has been set yet if the Philippines will start importing rice from Cambodia. This proposal has been talked about in recent years, but has not yet moved forward. Aside from agriculture, officials from the two countries said there is potential collaboration in the fields of manufacturing, tourism, energy, among others.
The PCCI and the Cambodian Chamber of Commerce has signed a memorandum of understanding to foster deeper relationship between the two chambers of help in investment promotions and knowledge sharing.
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Source : Abs Cbn
