On that occasion, the Czech Embassy in Manila in partnership with the Czech Chamber of Commerce and the Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic organized Czech-Philippine Agribusiness Forum 2024 in Makati and Davao on March 21st and 22nd respectively. The Czech companies presented their solutions for the brewing industry, dairy production, meat processing as well as other related agriculture industries.

During the Minister’s keynote address, he stated: “I believe that the rich and diverse participation in today’s forum may result to enriching and strengthening the cooperation, especially in the sectors that we represent here today, and that’s agriculture and food industry. I would be very glad for our partners from the Philippines to perceive this as a clear signal how much we are interested in strengthening our contacts with partners in the Philippines”.

The Minister of Agriculture also paid a courtesy visit to the University of the Philippines (UP) and discussed with President Angelo Jimenez potential research and university collaborations in forestry, tropical and subtropical agriculture, as well as in water management.

The Minister of Agriculture Marek Výborný and Secretary Francisco Laurel, signed the Letter of Intent.

(From L to R: Undersecretary Jerome Oliveros, Secretary of the Department of Agriculture Francisco Tiu Laurel, Minister of Agriculture Marek Výborný, and Ambassador Karel Hejč)

The visit to Manila culminated in a bilateral meeting with Secretary Francisco Laurel of the Department of Agriculture during which a Letter of Intent on Cooperation in Agriculture and the Food Industry was signed by the two dignitaries. Both Minister Výborný and Secretary Laurel agreed to enhance the collaboration in various areas, including veterinary issues, livestock production, aquaculture, as well as dairy production. Additionally, discussions extended to food production and its accompanying technologies, water management for agriculture, and to fostering scientific research exchanges.

Overall, the visit of the Czech Minister of Agriculture Mr. Marek Výborný to the Philippines emphasized a commitment to enhance mutual trade and economic relations in the agriculture and food industry sectors as well as to foster stronger partnership between the universities and research institutions in the Czech Republic and the Philippines.