CEBU CITY, Cebu, Philippines — Newly-appointed Israel Ambassador to the Philippines, Menashe Bar-on Wednesday said his country is eyeing several areas of partnership with Cebu, particularly in the fields of agriculture, trade, and education.

Bar-on, who paid a courtesy call to Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia Wednesday morning, said several areas in Cebu can be explored for partnership with Israel, including farm and farm products development, exchange of educational ideas, and partnership with the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI).

He said Israel has agriculture experts who can help in further developing agricultural products in the Philippines, particularly Cebu where huge farmlands can still be found, even as Israel might also consider export and import of agricultural products with the country.

In education, Bar-on said there are courses in Israel still not introduced here and both countries can discuss a possible exchange of expertise to enhance Philippine education.

He also discussed with CCCI President Samuel Chioson various trade and business areas that could be explored by the two countries.

Garcia earlier said she wants the Special Reaction Unit (SRU) team to receive training from experts from such countries as Israel, which has a track record in handling emergency situations.

For his part, Bar-on said he will look into a previous program involving the training of local police.