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PH Embassy and Fruit South Africa Plan Next Steps of Cooperation

Pretoria

Philippine Ambassador to South Africa Noralyn Jubaira Baja (center) with (counterclockwise from left) Fruit South Africa (FSA) Special Consultant for Market Development Dr. Mono Mashaba, FSA Chief Executive Officer Fhumulani Ratshitanga, First Secretary Maurice Tiempo and Attache and Economic Assistant Chynna Lyn D.S. Abaigar. (Pretoria PE photo)

PRETORIA, 15 November 2022 – Building on their inaugural meeting on 15 September 2022, Philippine Embassy officials led by Ambassador Noralyn Jubaira Baja held a follow-up meeting with Chief Executive Officer Fhumulani Ratshitanga and Specialist Consultant for Market Development Dr. Mono Mashaba of Fruit South Africa (FSA) on 08 November 2022.

During the meeting, FSA updated the Embassy that negotiations for the South African table grapes to gain market access in the Philippines is nearing conclusion, with a team from BPI expected to visit South Africa in 2023 to conduct a pest risk analysis.

The organization also briefed the Embassy on the outcome of its recent visit to Manila in October 2022, during which it attended the Agrilink. Foodlink. Aqualink Agribusiness Exhibition hosted by the Philippine Department of Agriculture, and met with officials of the Bureau of Plant and Industry (BPI).

Both sides also exchanged views on the way forward for the possible entry of Philippine tropical fruits to South Africa.

FSA is the umbrella body for the South African fruit industry. END

For more information, visit https://www.pretoriape.dfa.gov.ph or https://facebook.com/PHLinSouthAfrica/