LOS BAÑOS, PHILIPPINES – Mr. Muhamed Salim bin Mohd Ali, Chief Executive Officer of the International Tropical Fruits Network (TFNet), paid a courtesy visit to the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) on 19 November.
Mr. Salim was welcomed by Ms. Sharon Malaiba, Unit Head of the Partnership Unit; Dr. Nova Ramos, Head of the Training for Development Unit; Ms. Adoration Robles, Head of the Budget Unit; and Mr. Rey Tirso Abamonga, Head of General Services. He was accompanied by Mr. Christian Cangao, Information Officer of TFNet.
During the meeting, Ms. Malaiba presented SEARCA’s mandate and core programs. Established in 1966 by the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO), SEARCA is a non-profit institution dedicated to advancing agricultural and rural development in Southeast Asia through graduate education, institutional capacity development, training for development, and research and innovation.
Mr. Salim then introduced TFNet’s work, highlighting its roles in knowledge and information exchange, capacity building and training, technical advisory services, research and advocacy, and facilitation of trade and market access for the tropical fruit sector.
Following the presentations, Ms. Malaiba noted the strong alignment between SEARCA’s programs and TFNet’s initiatives, emphasizing opportunities for collaboration—particularly in capacity building through training programs, workshops, and forums.
One of the potential joint activities discussed was the development of a Young Ambassadors for Tropical Fruits Program, designed to provide undergraduate and postgraduate students with a platform to present their research and receive mentorship from experts and industry leaders.
TFNet intends to implement this program in four Member Countries, with the Philippines as the pilot. The proposal has also been presented to the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) and the University of the Philippines Los Baños, College of Agriculture and Food Science (CAFS–UPLB). Feedback from these partners will be instrumental in designing the final programme.
It was suggested that TFNet draft a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with SEARCA to formalize the partnership. SEARCA was likewise invited to join TFNet as an Associate Member.
SEARCA also extended an invitation to Mr. Salim to serve as a speaker for an on-site seminar on free trade agreements and their impact on the tropical fruit sector, tentatively scheduled for January 2026.
Photos taken by Ms. Zara Mae Estareja, SEARCA
