Default Thumbnail

PH offers food exports to South Africa

March 19, 2023 Joel dela Torre 203 views

THE Department of Agriculture (DA) discussed with South Africa potential areas for agri cooperation where the Philippines offers to export tuna, sardines, coconut oil and other tropical fruits like bananas and mangoes while acknowledging Africa’s vibrant production of citrus and meat.

DA Senior Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban recently met with South African Ambassador to the Philippines Bartinah Ntombizodwa Radebe-Netshitenzhe and talked about the two countries’ agricultural expertise and goals towards food security.

According to Panganiban, the meeting was a productive one with both officials opening up areas of consideration that can help boost food production and economic success.

Among those tackled was the DA’s final draft of the proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Technical Cooperation in the Field of Agriculture between the Philippines and South Africa for the latter’s approval.

The MOU seeks to promote bilateral cooperation between the two countries on capacity-building, technology advancement, agricultural trade, agribusiness, and knowledge-sharing by conducting joint activities, projects, programs, and exchanges.

While Ambassador Radebe-Netshitenzhe took pride in South Africa’s vibrant production of citrus and meat, Senior Undersecretary Panganiban also encouraged the former to import tuna, sardines, coconut oil, mangoes, bananas, and other tropical fruits from the Philippines.

Since the establishment of diplomatic ties between the Philippines and South Africa in November 1993, the two countries have had a vibrant history of cultural, political, economic relations.

The DA cited in 2021 alone where South Africa ranked 42nd among 223 top trading partners and was the largest African trading partner of the Philippines, recording a total trade amount of US$ 125.1 million.

As per Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the Philippines’ US$ 85.5 millioh worth of export products to South Africa include desiccated coconut, tobacco, coconut oil and its fraction, mucilage and thickeners, carrageenan, preparations suitable for infants and young children, tobacco that were not stemmed-flue-cured, sauces and preparations, coffee extracts, essences and concentrates, and coconut concentrate.

On the other hand, the South African government mostly exported onion seeds, dog and cat food, fruit juice mixtures, undenatured ethyl alcohol, grape wine, peaches, mixture of juices, waters including mineral and aerated with added sugar, mandarins, and apple juice amounting to US$ 39.6 million.

AUTHOR PROFILE