Tagbilaran City (6 February) -- Boholano by affinity and Aggie secretary Arthur Yap recently signed for the country an agreement on agricultural and fisheries cooperation with Kingdom of Bahrain.

Based on reports, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Prime Minister Shaikh Khalifa Salman Al Khalifa witnessed the signing of memorandum of understanding (MOU) by Yap and Minister Hassan Fakhro of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce of Bahrain at the Prime Minister's Judaibiya Palace.

The MOU puts up the general framework for bilateral cooperation in agriculture and fisheries in fostering sectoral development for the enhancement of agri-related trade and investment.

The signing formalizes strengthened cooperative endeavors in plant science, crop technology, vegetable and fruit preservation, biotechnology, post-harvest technology, livestock and fisheries, organic agriculture, aquaculture, coastal and deep-sea fishing management, irrigation and water resources as well as the halal industry.

These, both countries would do through exchanges of science, technical materials and information in agriculture and fisheries and of professionals, scientists, technical experts and trainees.

The agreement also formalizes cooperative studies related to areas of mutual interest.

Moreover, with the agreement, both countries organize training workshops, seminars and conferences in mutual interest areas, conduct promotional and facilitation activities including agricultural products, trade fairs and special exhibitions and Cooperate in areas of food and commercial sectors and food industries, technology transfer and innovation, implementation of activities related to trading in agricultural products through meetings, seminars, and other methods considered appropriate.

The agreement also puts both countries in cooperation in related areas to be identified and agreed upon, including sanitary and phyto-sanitary measures relating to the import or export of agricultural and fisheries products.

To ensure the successful implementation of the MOU, the parties will create a joint committee composed of an equal number of representatives. This committee will meet twice a year, one in Manama and one in Manila, to study and formulate detailed programs for cooperation in the areas of agriculture and fisheries.