MAFRA – Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs of the Republic of Korea

Agricultural Ministers of ASEAN, Korea, China and Japan, Discussed Measures Korea, China and Japan, Discussed Measures Agricultural Food Industry in the Region

Date

2015-09-15

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA, Minister Lee Dong-phil) a nnounced that the Ministry's Deputy Minister Oh Kyung-tae would participate in the 15th ASEAN Plus Three Ministerial Meeting on Agriculture and Forestry (AMAF+3) held in Makati, Philippines on Friday, September 11th, in order to discuss measures to strengthen food security and to cooperate in the agricultural food industry in the ASEAN and the Northeast Asian region. * AMAF+3 is the venue to discuss cooperation in the industry of food, agriculture, forestry and fishery among the ASEAN member countries with Korea, China and Japan. Since 2001, the ASEAN member states have taken turns in hosting the meeting. Through the keynote speech, the Assistant Secretary emphasized that it is important for the ASEAN members as well as Korea, China and Japan to overcome the challenges that their rural areas face including climate change and economic crisis, through a sense of responsibility and cooperation. ❍ The delegation also shared the accomplishments of the cooperative projects among the ASEAN member states with Korea, China and Japan and as well as discussing measures for development. The delegation discussed measures for development of bioenergy for sustainable agriculture and rural development, and supported '2015 - 2025 ASEAN Plus Three Bioenergy and Food Security Framework.' Also, the delegation discussed the progress of the 'ASEAN Plus Three Emergency Rice Reserve (APTERR)' and the 'ASEAN Food Security Information System (AFSIS).' Both are designed to strengthen food security in the region and reduce poverty. ❍ APTERR is to provide rice to the ASEAN member states who are in the disaster stage in a prompt and systematical manner. Korea has been expressing that the nation reserves about 150,000 tons of rice and plans to strengthen relevant cooperation. ❍ The delegation introduced and encourages meeting participants for cooperation on the 'Establishment of AFSIS and Capability Building Project for Human Resources*' in the Philippines and Cambodia in 2015. Previously, Korea implemented such a project in Laos in 2014. * Establishing agriculture statistics information systems in each country, nurturing experts for utilizing system (in 2014 - 2016 with the budget of KRW 2.1 billion) In order to develop export markets for Korea's agricultural and livestock products, the delegation had bilateral meetings with the ministry's counterparts from Myanmar and Malaysia. ❍ During the bilateral meeting with Myint Hlaing, Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation of Myanmar, Deputy Minister Oh discussed cooperation measures in agriculture with him, and asked the minister for support from the Myanmarese side in expansion of exports of Korean agricultural and livestock products to Myanmar. ❍ During the bilateral meeting with Shabery Cheek, Minister of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry of Malaysia, Deputy Minister Oh asked the minister for his interest in and support of Korean companies so that Korean milk exports can be smoothly expanded in the Malaysian market. Korean milk recently achieved the Malaysian government's halal certification.