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Indian Express
2 days ago
- Business
- Indian Express
Why Manila wants to engage more with New Delhi
The visit by President Bongbong Marcos of the Philippines to India (August 4-8) is under the aegis of the India-ASEAN Comprehensive Partnership. From that, it has drawn sustenance and inspiration to raise the bilateral partnership to a strategic one. India's partnership with the Philippines serves as a cornerstone of its 'Act East' Policy, Vision MAHASAGAR, and its broader Indo-Pacific strategy. As the two nations mark 75 years of diplomatic relations, this milestone offers a meaningful opportunity to deepen bilateral cooperation and engage in dialogue on key regional and global challenges of mutual interest. Looking ahead, the Philippines' upcoming chairmanship of ASEAN next year adds further significance to this evolving partnership. The enhancement of the relationship is strategic. The Philippines is the loudest in criticising China on its aggression in the South China Sea. Under Marcos jr, the policy of accommodating China at all costs has given rise to defending its national interest, in which engaging Japan, Australia and the US are top priorities. India now plays an important role in the Philippines' thinking. The Philippines won the arbitral award against Chinese claims in 2016, but only pursued those under Marcos. India in the last three years has been responsive to the Philippines' position on the SCS. Manila has decided to join the International Fusion Centre established by India for the Indian Ocean Region. Beyond the strategic enhancement of relationships, which positions the Philippines and Singapore among India's closest strategic partners within ASEAN, there is growing interest in expanding connectivity between India and the Philippines. Due to the geographical distance, the Philippines has long lacked direct shipping, flights, or connectivity initiatives of the kind India already enjoys with other ASEAN nations. Recent developments suggest a shift. The Philippines' decision to grant visa-free entry to Indian nationals, coupled with Air India's move to start direct flights, is expected to boost tourism and enhance people-to-people contact, an area in which the India-Philippines partnership has historically lagged behind other ASEAN countries. The success of direct connectivity in promoting tourism in countries like Vietnam, Cambodia, and Indonesia reinforces this trend. While trade and investment have traditionally been the cornerstones of India's ties with ASEAN, India-Philippines trade relations have remained modest. The Philippines ranks sixth among the 10 ASEAN member states in trade with India. In 2023–24, bilateral trade was $3.5 billion: Indian exports accounted for approximately $2 billion, while imports from the Philippines reached about $1.5 billion. The Philippines has historically been a hesitant participant in ASEAN-India trade frameworks, often being the last to ratify major agreements. However, progress is underway. Since June 2023, a new agreement on cooperation and mutual assistance in customs matters has been in place. Negotiations on a Preferential Trade Agreement have resumed, and discussions continue around the Terms of Reference (ToR) for a Trade Negotiations Committee. While the Philippines is a part of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity, it has not emerged as a major trade actor in either. Its key trading partners remain China, the US, Japan, Hong Kong, Australia, and New Zealand. Despite having a higher GDP per capita than India, the Philippines recognises India's status as an emerging economic powerhouse, growing at nearly 7 per cent annually. This recognition is prompting Manila to engage more actively with New Delhi. Indian investments in the Philippines are valued at around $5 billion, primarily in IT and ITeS, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, and biomass energy. Filipino investments in India are limited but could grow, especially with the rise of regional supply chains. Financial technology is a priority area for both governments, and a MoU was signed in 2023 to strengthen cooperation. While the Philippines received 1.4 million tourists in 2023, only around 30,000 were from India. This number is expected to grow rapidly with the newly introduced visa-free travel and direct air connectivity, setting the stage for a deeper and more dynamic India-Philippines relationship. The new impetus to this is based on the wider Indo-Pacific concept, recognising the Act East Policy for its worth. The writer is author of The Mango Flavour: India & ASEAN after 10 years of the AEP
The Print
5 days ago
- Business
- The Print
Philippine's President Marcos arrives in New Delhi for first state visit
According to a post on X by the MEA, Marcos was welcomed with a warm reception by the Minister of State for External Affairs, Pabitra Margherita. This is the first visit by the President of the Southeast Asian country to India since he assumed office back in 2022, marking a significant milestone, as his visit aligns with the celebration of the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two nations. New Delhi: Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr arrived in the national capital on Monday for a five-day state visit to India, aimed at further strengthening the India-Philippines relationship, the Ministry of External Affairs stated. 'Mabuhay, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.! President Bongbong Marcos has arrived in New Delhi on his first State Visit to India. Received by MoS Pabitra Margherita and accorded a warm welcome. India & the Philippines are celebrating 75th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic ties. This visit will lead to further strengthening of India-Philippines relations,' the MEA stated on X. He was accompanied by First Lady Louise Araneta Marcos and a high-level delegation including several Ministers from his Cabinet. According to a statement by the MEA, during his visit, President Marcos will be holding talks with President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with other officials. He will also be meeting with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. On August 5, he will lay a wreath at Rajghat, and following that, he will hold talks with PM Modi at the Hyderabad House. Exchange of Memoranda of Understanding and Press Statements will take place thereafter. The Philippine President will then meet Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare JP Nadda and thereafter President Droupadi Murmu. He will then travel to Bengaluru and meet Karnataka Governor Thawar Chand Ghelot. His visit came following an invitation by PM Modi, an MEA statement stated on Thursday. Diplomatic relations between India and the Philippines were established in November 1949. Both countries have since developed a strong partnership across a broad spectrum of areas, including trade and investment, defence and security, maritime cooperation, agriculture, healthcare, pharmaceuticals and digital technologies. The two countries also engage closely at the regional level, including through India's Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with ASEAN. The statement added that India's relations with the Philippines are an integral pillar of our 'Act East' Policy, Vision MAHASAGAR and our vision of the Indo-Pacific. The visit will act as an opportunity for both leaders to set the path for future bilateral cooperation and to engage on regional and international issues of mutual interest, as per the statement. India and the Philippines share warm and multifaceted bilateral relations rooted in historical ties and shared democratic values. Cooperation spans various sectors, including defence, trade, investment, and cultural exchange. (ANI) This report is auto-generated from ANI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content. Also Read: Marcos Jr to be 5th Philippines president to visit India. Delhi-Manila diplomatic ties date back to 1949
India.com
5 days ago
- Business
- India.com
Philippine President Marcos Jr Arrives On 5-Day State Visit To India
Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr arrived in the national capital on Monday for a five-day state visit to India, aimed at further strengthening the India-Philippines relationship, the Ministry of External Affairs stated. This is the first visit by the President of the Southeast Asian country to India since he assumed office back in 2022, marking a significant milestone, as his visit aligns with the celebration of the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two nations. According to a post on X by the MEA, Marcos was welcomed with a warm reception by the Minister of State for External Affairs, Pabitra Margherita. "Mabuhay, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.! President Bongbong Marcos has arrived in New Delhi on his first State Visit to India. Received by MoS Pabitra Margherita and accorded a warm welcome. India & the Philippines are celebrating 75th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic ties. This visit will lead to further strengthening of India-Philippines relations," the MEA stated on X. He was accompanied by First Lady Louise Araneta Marcos and a high-level delegation including several Ministers from his Cabinet. According to a statement by the MEA, during his visit, President Marcos will be holding talks with President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with other officials. He will also be meeting with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. On August 5, he will lay a wreath at Rajghat, and following that, he will hold talks with PM Modi at the Hyderabad House. Exchange of Memoranda of Understanding and Press Statements will take place thereafter. The Philippine President will then meet Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare JP Nadda and thereafter President Droupadi Murmu. He will then travel to Bengaluru and meet Karnataka Governor Thawar Chand Ghelot. His visit came following an invitation by PM Modi, an MEA statement stated on Thursday. Diplomatic relations between India and the Philippines were established in November 1949. Both countries have since developed a strong partnership across a broad spectrum of areas, including trade and investment, defence and security, maritime cooperation, agriculture, healthcare, pharmaceuticals and digital technologies. The two countries also engage closely at the regional level, including through India's Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with ASEAN. The statement added that India's relations with the Philippines are an integral pillar of our 'Act East' Policy, Vision MAHASAGAR and our vision of the Indo-Pacific. The visit will act as an opportunity for both leaders to set the path for future bilateral cooperation and to engage on regional and international issues of mutual interest, as per the statement. India and the Philippines share warm and multifaceted bilateral relations rooted in historical ties and shared democratic values. Cooperation spans various sectors, including defence, trade, investment, and cultural exchange.
NDTV
6 days ago
- Business
- NDTV
"India Is Valued Friend": Philippines President Embarks 5-Day State Visit
Manila: Philippines President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Monday described India as a "valued friend" as he embarked on a five-day State Visit to India. The President, in his departure statement, emphasised that shared democratic values, maritime interests, and regional peace form the foundation for "deeper, broader, and more meaningful bilateral cooperation" with India. This marks his first official visit to India since assuming office in 2022. "Our bilateral relations have seen a measured and stable development that is both comprehensive in scope and multifaceted in nature," state-run news agency PNA quoted President Marcos as saying. "There is much potential for cooperation with India that will mutually benefit our peoples," he added, highlighting areas of defence, trade, health, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, tourism, and digital connectivity for possible collaboration. "I want this visit to bring concrete benefits for the Filipino people, such as more affordable medicine and greater connectivity and food security," he added. After arriving in New Delhi, President Marcos will begin his official engagements with Indian leaders and key stakeholders. President Marcos will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and both leaders will discuss ways to deepen cooperation in areas such as the economy, defence, security and political matters, as well as trade, investment and people-to-people exchanges. "Both leaders are expected to exchange views on regional and international issues of mutual interest," read a statement issued by the President's office. The statement further mentioned that after New Delhi, President Marcos will head to Bengaluru to continue discussions and "further strengthen economic ties with the business sector." According to the Philippine President's office, the state visit coincides with the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Manila and New Delhi, which emphasises the shared commitment of both nations "to deepen cooperation and achieve common regional goals." India has also stressed that the Philippines is a key partner in its Act East Policy, Vision MAHASAGAR, and Indo-Pacific strategy. "The relationship is anchored not only in strategic interests but also in deep historical and cultural ties," the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a post on X. According to the MEA, diplomatic ties between India and the Philippines were formally established in November 1949. With the launch of India's Look East Policy in 1992, and its subsequent transformation into the Act East Policy, bilateral relations have grown substantially, particularly through ASEAN cooperation. President Marcos and PM Modi last met briefly on the sidelines of the 21st ASEAN-India Summit and the 19th East Asia Summit in Lao PDR in October 2024, and earlier in Jakarta during the 20th ASEAN-India Summit in 2023.
India.com
6 days ago
- Business
- India.com
Philippines President Marcos First State Visit to India Aims to Boost Defence, Trade Ties
President Marcos will land at Air Force Station Palam in the afternoon, accompanied by First Lady Louise Araneta Marcos and a high-level delegation comprising Cabinet Ministers, senior officials, and business leaders. His visit coincides with the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, adding symbolic significance to the engagements planned over the coming days. The visit is expected to culminate in deeper strategic and defence cooperation, especially in the maritime domain. The Philippines, notably, became the first foreign country to procure India's BrahMos supersonic cruise missile system. The first consignment of BrahMos missiles was delivered to the Philippines on April 19, 2024. An agreement to enhance defence collaboration, particularly focusing on maritime security, is anticipated during the visit. President Marcos is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 5. He will also meet President Droupadi Murmu and will be called on by External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, with their meeting scheduled for 5:00 p.m. Monday at the Taj Mahal Hotel in New Delhi. The Philippine President is also expected to visit Bengaluru before departing India on August 8. India's Ministry of External Affairs emphasised that the Philippines is a key partner in India's Act East Policy, Vision MAHASAGAR, and Indo-Pacific strategy. The relationship is anchored not only in strategic interests but also in deep historical and cultural ties. The Tagalog language contains numerous words of Sanskrit origin, and archaeological findings like the Laguna Copperplate inscription and the Agusan Tara statue testify to centuries-old connections. Diplomatic ties between India and the Philippines were formally established in November 1949. With the launch of India's Look East Policy in 1992, and its subsequent transformation into the Act East Policy, bilateral relations have grown substantially, particularly through ASEAN cooperation. President Marcos and PM Modi last met briefly on the sidelines of the 21st ASEAN-India Summit and the 19th East Asia Summit in Lao PDR in October 2024, and earlier in Jakarta during the 20th ASEAN-India Summit in 2023.
