The Philippines and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have forged a partnership that aims to curb climate change and boost the two countries' agricultural cooperation under the administration of President Marcos, who will temporarily head the Agriculture Department.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the two countries agreed to work together after Philippine Ambassador to UAE Hjayceelyn Quintana, and UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment Usec. Noora Karam signed a Memorandum of Understanding on June 27.
Their aim, said Quintana, was to put the two countries' "engagement in this area of cooperation at a higher level," considering that we "grapple with the effects of climate change and international conflicts on our food security."
According to the diplomat, the Philippines, as one of the countries affected by climate change, sees the partnership "as timely and relevant as it paves the way for a Joint Committee where officials of the Philippines and the UAE will set directions for cooperation."
Particularly, the two countries will cooperate in soil science and management, biotechnology, post-harvest, agriculture research and development, agri-innovation, protected agriculture technology, irrigation, and water resources.
The DFA said the memorandum would even provide a "strong framework" for the Marcos administration to work with UAE as a partner in the Middle East for agricultural innovation, especially as he will temporarily take charge of the Department of Agriculture.
"It will build upon complementarities between the Philippines and the UAE, each having different climatic conditions and equipped with unique and specific areas of specialization that can be applied towards providing solutions in agricultural production," DFA said.
In fact, the agency added, the Philippines is UAE's largest market in the Middle East in terms of agricultural food products.