Egypt, Philippines push for wider access to farm markets

EGYPT – Egypt and the Philippines have agreed to step up talks on farm trade, with both sides aiming to remove barriers and speed up access to each other’s markets.

Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation Alaa Farouk met a senior Philippine delegation in Cairo to review ways to expand cooperation and boost exports of farm products.

The delegation was led by Zamzamin Ampatuan, Undersecretary of the Philippine Department of Agriculture for Mindanao Affairs and Director of the Halal Food Industry Development Programme, and included Crystal Donuan, Chargé d’Affaires of the Philippine Embassy in Cairo.

Farouk stressed the need to open the Philippine market to Egyptian products such as table potatoes, grapes, onions, and garlic. He said Egypt wants to move from talks to real exports within a short time.

“We want to complete the technical requirements quickly so that Egyptian products can enter the Philippine market without delay,” Farouk said.

He added that Egypt had invited his Philippine counterpart to visit the country in the coming months to review updates in Egypt’s agricultural quarantine system and inspect quality standards.

“The visit will help finalise technical files and support the start of actual exports,” he said.

Farouk also instructed his team to provide logistical and technical support and to create direct communication channels between Egyptian exporters and Philippine importers. He said these steps would speed up trade in farm and animal-origin products.

Poultry and halal products in focus

The Philippine delegation showed strong interest in Egypt’s experience in frozen poultry production, especially as the Philippines faces shortages in its domestic market.

“We see opportunities to learn from Egypt’s poultry sector and to strengthen supply in our market,” Ampatuan said.

The delegation also highlighted the importance of halal food products, noting that more than eight million Muslims live in the Philippines.

“Halal products matter greatly for our consumers, and cooperation in this area can benefit both countries,” Ampatuan added.

Growing trade and new products

Both sides also reviewed recent progress in bilateral trade. Egypt has completed procedures to allow Philippine durian into its market, marking a key step in expanding product flows between the two countries.

The Philippine delegation expressed interest in exporting more high-quality products to Egypt, including bananas, pineapples, mangoes, and coconuts.

Officials from both countries said the discussions reflect a shared goal to deepen farm trade and strengthen long-term cooperation. They also noted that faster technical approvals, direct links between businesses, and mutual recognition of standards could help boost trade volumes in the near future.

As talks continue, both sides expect the planned ministerial visit and ongoing technical work to move the partnership from dialogue to tangible trade outcomes, with new products entering each other’s markets and stronger ties forming between producers, exporters, and buyers.

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