Taiwan and the U.K. inked a memorandum of understanding on agriculture cooperation Jan. 28, spotlighting government efforts to boost bilateral exchanges while strengthening trade between the two sides, according to the Cabinet-level Council of Agriculture.
The pact was signed by Kelly Wu-chiao Hsieh, head of Taipei Representative Office in the U.K., and British Office Taipei Rep. John Dennis on behalf of the COA and the U.K.’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, respectively. It promises collaboration on issues like agricultural policy and technology, fisheries protection, as well as animal and plant inspection and quarantine.
According to the COA, the MOU will provide mutual benefits by leveraging Taiwan’s agricultural expertise and the U.K.’s position as a technology and trade hub. Domestic enterprises will also be able to work more closely with the U.K.’s logistics businesses to expand into new markets, the council said.
The agreement is the 17th agricultural MOU the COA has concluded with countries and territories worldwide, joining similar accords reached with other European countries like France, Hungary, Poland and the Netherlands.
John Dennis took over as BTO representative earlier this month from Catherine Nettleton. He met with President Tsai Ing-wen last week at the Presidential Office in Taipei City, with both sides expressing a commitment to fostering closer Taiwan-U.K ties. (YCH-E)
Write to Taiwan Today at ttonline@mofa.gov.tw