THE Philippines and Cambodia want to expand agricultural trade, strengthen food security in Asean, and draw new investment in the agri-fishery sector, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said Friday.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. met Cambodian Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Dith Tina and a business delegation in Manila on July 21 to discuss new areas of cooperation.
Tiu Laurel said the visit marks a new phase in bilateral economic cooperation between the two countries.
The talks come as the Philippines prioritizes climate-resilient farming, biosecurity, and digital agriculture, while Cambodia strengthens its own sector and opens up opportunities for technology exchange and investment.
Bilateral agricultural trade between the two countries reached $15.9 million in 2025, though both sides noted significant untapped potential. “In 2026, there is significant growth in trade between the Philippines and Cambodia, and we’re looking forward to continuing that trajectory. Hopefully more deals will come out of this mission,” Tiu Laurel said.
The engagement reflects a broader Asean push for resilient food supply chains, Tiu Laurel noted, adding that the Philippines needs its Asean neighbors to work closely toward a common, food-secure region.
“If translated into deals, this mission could create more opportunities for farmers and agribusinesses and reinforce a more integrated, food-secure Asean,” he said.
Philippine rice imports rose by 2.75 million metric tons in the first half of the year, according to data from the Bureau of Plant Industry.
Over the same period, Cambodia exported approximately 70,000 tonnes of milled rice to the Philippines.
