By ROY C. MABASA
India’s External Affairs Minister (EAM), Subrahmanyam Jaishankar is set to embark on his second visit to the Philippines from March 25 to March 27, 2024.
The visit comes at a crucial time as tensions escalate in the West Philippine Sea, and both nations aim to bolster defense and cooperation efforts.
During his visit, EAM Jaishankar will engage in discussions with Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique A. Manalo to strengthen the ties between the two rapidly growing economies.
The agenda will focus on enhancing trade and tourism relations, with particular emphasis on areas such as food security, development, healthcare, and financial technology collaboration.
India currently stands as the Philippines’ 15th trading partner and 13th export market, with bilateral trade exceeding three billion USD in 2023. This visit underscores the commitment of both nations to further enhance economic cooperation for mutual benefit.
EAM Jaishankar’s visit to Manila is part of his broader Southeast Asia tour, which includes stops in Singapore and Malaysia.
This marks his second visit to the Philippines since February 2022, demonstrating India’s enduring commitment to strengthening ties with its Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) partners.
