21 May 2015, Tel Aviv, State of Israel – The Philippines' largest business delegation to Israel in recent years attended the 19th International Agricultural Exhibition and Conference (AgriTech 2015) held on 28-30 April 2015 at the Tel Aviv Trade Fairs and Convention Center. The 30-member delegation consisted of 7 Regional Directors from the Department of Agriculture and 23 delegates from the private sector coming from Davao, Cotabato, and General Santos. The participation of the Philippine delegation in the exhibition was organized by the Israeli Embassy in Manila.
Apart from touring international exhibits during the three-day event, the delegation attended conferences, site tours of companies specializing in agricultural technology, and briefing on the Granot Agrostudies Program, which is a major area of agricultural cooperation between the Philippines and Israel.
The Philippine delegation also paid a courtesy call on Philippine Ambassador to Israel Neal Imperial on 28 April 2015. Ambassador Imperial briefed the delegates on Philippines-Israel relations; conveyed the importance of agriculture cooperation which is a major aspect of Philippines-Israel relations; discussed ongoing agricultural development cooperation programs with Israel including the Granot Agrostudies Program; and identified trade and business opportunities in Israel for Filipinos.
At the sidelines of the international exhibition, the Embassy facilitated meetings between the officials of the Department of Agriculture and their counterparts at the Center for International Agricultural Development Cooperation (CINADCO), Israeli Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, and a major Israeli importer of Philippine food products.
The AgriTech Israel is one of the most important exhibitions in terms of agricultural technologies not only in Israel, but also in the world. The exhibit showcased Israel's latest trends and developments in agricultural technology, and served as a platform for participants to network with potential business partners in the agricultural sector.--END--
Ambassador Imperial with the delegates from the Department of Agriculture