President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said the Philippines has forged a new partnership with Israel to help boost the country’s agricultural competitiveness.
This after Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen offered to help the country become more self-sufficient on its food supply when he met with the President on Monday in Malacañang.
“I think that we can work together and let’s say that less import, more export for the Philippines. And I think that we can work together,” Cohen said during the meeting.
The Israeli official suggested the creation of the Philippine-Israeli hub to implement the said initiative.
Marcos welcomed the proposal, which he said is in line with his administration’s priority to ensure food security.
“Because when we look at the economy as hard to just test, we said how do we fix the economy. It always comes down to agriculture first, how to fix every policy, then everything else would be great. So that’s the position that we find ourselves in,” the President said.
“So, the offers that you make for assistance and partnership in those two areas are very, very welcome,” he added.
Both officials also discussed possible collaboration on water management as well as direct flights between Philippines and Israel to help increase tourism and business between the two countries.
Cohen is the first high-ranking Israeli diplomat to visit the country in 56 years.
Israel is targeting to double its investments to the country next year to $1 billion.