VIENTIANE, Lao PDR — The Philippines and Lao People’s Democratic Republic are deepening agricultural ties with a new cooperation agreement that seeks to expand trade, strengthen food security, and unlock fresh investment opportunities across the farm sector.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. and Lao Minister of Agriculture and Environment Linkham Doungsavanh signed an updated Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Agricultural Cooperation during the Philippine agriculture chief’s official visit to Vientiane, signaling a broader push toward regional agricultural integration.
The new pact modernizes a bilateral framework first established in 1998 and significantly widens the scope of collaboration to include strategic crops, climate-resilient farming, agricultural technology, research, postharvest systems, and sanitary and phytosanitary standards—areas increasingly critical as Southeast Asian economies grapple with food security challenges and supply chain disruptions.
As both countries seek to strengthen food systems amid climate and market uncertainties, the upgraded partnership underscores a shared strategy of leveraging regional cooperation to drive agricultural growth, productivity, and long-term food security. ### (Photos By DA-OSEC)
