DTI Secretary Cristina Roque and Minister of Economy and Industry Nir Barkat had a productive bilateral meeting on 29 July 2025, marking the close of the inaugural Philippines-Israel Joint Committee (JC) Meeting. The discussions culminated in the signing of a Summary of Discussions that outlines key areas of future economic cooperation, with a strong focus on agriculture, innovation, start-ups, cybersecurity, and trade and investment promotion and facilitation. The JC Meeting was held virtually on 1 July 2025.

Joined by senior officials and ambassadors from both countries, the high-level meeting provided a platform for discussions on a wide range of topics including on economic developments, trade and identification of concrete actions to further strengthen economic cooperation.

“This meeting reflects the enduring economic partnership between the Philippines and Israel,” said Secretary Roque. “We are aligning our priorities in areas of mutual interests that will support the next phase of our countries’ sustainable and secure growth.”

On agriculture, discussions centered on strengthening private sector participation in collaborative development projects. Key areas explored included innovative irrigation, the introduction of climate-adapted crop varieties, and the establishment of livestock complexes and smart greenhouses. Discussions also covered sharing expertise in agrotechnology and adapting modern, resource-efficient water and land management systems.

Another key discussion point was technological innovation, research and development (R&D). Both sides aim to facilitate the implementation of the Agreement on Cooperation in Technological Innovation, Research and Development, signed on 6 June 2022. This includes pursuing R&D and pilot projects through joint calls for proposals, and supporting these efforts through the exchange of experiences, best practices, and knowledge on startup development.

With the growing importance of digital connectivity, cybersecurity also emerged as an important focus of the meeting. Both sides expressed willingness to collaborate through discussions, information-sharing, and capacity building in a number of areas. Apart from these, both sides also expressed their interest in exploring areas of cooperation in intellectual property, training and development, customs and trade promotion.

The successful outcome of the bilateral meeting and signing of the Summary of Discussions mark a step forward in the Philippines-Israel economic partnership, setting the stage for practical actions and continued dialogue in advancing mutual economic goals. ♦

Date of Release: 29 July 2025