TO ENHANCE economic cooperation and promote inclusive prosperity, MaryKay Carlson, the United States (US) Ambassador to the Philippines, unveiled plans for a trade mission to bolster the country's agriculture sector, particularly in Mindanao.
During her visit to Davao City on August 18, 2023, Carlson informed the media that their primary focus would be reinforcing the region's agricultural capabilities, a key area strength.
"One of the areas where we can do a lot with the US-Phil relationship is specifically [to] focus on agriculture which is the region's strength," she said.
She also said that by the end of September this year, a delegation of seven to eight prominent US agricultural companies, including industry leaders such as John Deere and Cargill, will assess opportunities in precision agriculture within the region, given the island's substantial potential for agribusiness.
"We are bringing big names at the end of September to look at trade opportunities so that we [can] give more people invest [invested] in the system," Carlson added.
Carlson further underscored the longstanding focus of both the Marcos and Biden administrations on global food and nutrition security.
Notably, during discussions during Marcos's recent state visit to Washington early this year, US Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos emphasized the significance of food security and agricultural trade.
Among the initiatives geared toward sustaining the positive momentum of their collaboration is the advancement of food security.
The Department of Commerce plans to execute its inaugural trade mission centered on agricultural technology, targeting Manila and Davao in September 2023. In addition, a groundbreaking presidential investment delegation is also scheduled to arrive in the Philippines shortly.
Beyond agriculture, the Philippines and the US cooperate closely with neighboring regional nations to negotiate the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF). This framework aims to fortify trade supply chain resilience, foster the development of clean economies, combat corruption, and enhance tax initiatives. DEF