By TED CORDERO, GMA Integrated News

The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Friday announced it is in discussions with Pakistan for the allocation of at least one million metric tons of rice to be imported by the Philippines.

In a statement, the DA said both nations “could reach a final deal by June next year.”

It added that the allocation of one million MT of rice being negotiated with the South Asian country could “fill a quarter of Manila’s annual import requirement of the food staple.”

This came after Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. met with Dr. Imtiaz Kazi, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Manila, last December 16 to explore key opportunities to deepen agricultural trade ties between the two nations. 

For his part, Kazi emphasized Pakistan’s growing role as the Philippines’ third-largest rice supplier —behind Vietnam and Thailand. 

The Agriculture Department said that the Pakistani envoy “in a bold move” proposed committing one million MT of rice per year to the Philippines “at a competitive price, signaling a strategic partnership that could reshape rice import dynamics.”

Kazi also proposed a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to cement this partnership, a suggestion that Secretary Tiu Laurel welcomed the proposal and expressed hopes of finalizing the agreement by June 2025, according to the DA.

Nonetheless, the Pakistani envoy sought confirmation on the continuation of the reduced tariff on imported rice in general, which Tiu Laurel said could be extended until 2028, only if necessary, said the Agriculture Department.

Moreover, the two officials discussed ways to diversify trade between the two countries. 

Kazi urged the Philippines to explore exporting fresh produce like mangoes, bananas, and durian to Pakistan’s vast Muslim market, Tiu Laurel expressed keen interest in learning from Pakistan’s advanced agricultural practices, particularly in irrigation, post-harvest technology, and Halal certification.—AOL, GMA Integrated News

Published Date: December 27, 2024