Mexico City (EFE) – Mexico and Japan agreed this Sunday to promote a cooperation scheme with third countries in Latin America to reduce migration flows and strengthen technological cooperation in the primary sector, it was reported Secretariat for Agriculture and Rural Development (Sader).
The agreement was reached after a working meeting between Minister of Agriculture Vรญctor Villalobos and Japanese Ambassador to Mexico Noriter Fukushimawho also agreed that it is necessary to increase food security in the region.
The Mexican official pointed out that bilateral relations are “strong and solid”, in which the transfer of knowledge and the development of technologies in agriculture and fisheries are valued.
Among the joint efforts, he mentioned the scholarship of students and researchers from both countries, which contributed to the development of capacities in a strategic area such as conservation and management of genetic resources.
In this sense, he reminded that there are lines of work in between National Institute for Forestry, Agriculture and Animal Husbandry (Inifap) and University of Tsukuba.
Villalobos also recognized the contribution of Japanese researchers in the development of biotechnology and in the preservation of corn and wheat varieties in International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (Cimmyt)and management of special rice cultivation, which could be opened to the national market.
For his part, Japanese Ambassador Noriteru Fukushima agreed that there is a good relationship in bilateral agri-food trade.
He emphasized that 60% of pork and 90% of avocados consumed in Japan come from Mexico, while Japanese polished rice is of high quality and very competitive.
The ambassador recommended moving forward health protocols to open up more agricultural and food products, making Mexico the second trading partner.
Fukushima emphasized that cooperation in genetic resources, tropical agriculture will continue and cooperation with Inifap and other research centers will be deepened, through the exchange of academic staff.
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Field development
He also recognized Mexico’s leadership in the agricultural sector.
At the end of 2022, agricultural and food trade balance and the Mexican fishing industry with Japan recorded a surplus of 1.278 million dollars.
Last year, exports amounted to 1.299 million dollars, and imports to 21 million dollars.
The main products sold by Mexico to Japan in the last four years were pork, avocados, beef, tuna, bananas, squash, tequila, orange juice, shrimp and canned citrus fruits.
The main imports were green tea, canned fish, soups, fermented drink mixes, fish fillets, whiskey and vegetable seeds.
Photo: EFE/Josรฉ Mรฉndez
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