Bangladesh, Philippines sign maritime cooperation agreement
Bangladesh and the Philippines held the third round of Foreign Policy Consultations (FPC) in Manila, marking the first session after a six-year interval.
The meeting was co-chaired by Ambassador Dr Md Nazrul Islam, Secretary (East and West) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh, and Ma. Hellen B De La Vega, Undersecretary for Policy of the Department of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines. Leo M Herrera-Lim, Undersecretary for Migration Affairs, was also present.
The Bangladesh delegation included Mohammad Sarwar Mahmood, ndc, Ambassador of Bangladesh to the Philippines; officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Bangladesh Embassy in Manila; and a representative from Bangladesh Bank. The Philippine delegation comprised senior officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Justice, Department of Agriculture, Department of Migrant Workers, Commission on Higher Education, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Board of Investment, Anti-Money Laundering Council and Civil Aeronautics Board, along with Nina P Cainglet, Ambassador of the Philippines to Bangladesh.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
Held in a warm and forward-looking atmosphere, the consultations reviewed progress since the previous FPC and identified opportunities to deepen cooperation in political relations, trade and investment, cyber security, blue economy, education, skills development, culture, defence collaboration, people-to-people exchanges, labour and migration governance.
Bangladesh highlighted opportunities for increased Filipino investment in emerging sectors and reiterated its aspiration to become a Sectoral Dialogue Partner of ASEAN. Both sides also discussed regional and multilateral issues, including the situation of forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals (FDMNs).
The meeting concluded with the signing of a memorandum of agreement on maritime cooperation regarding the recognition of certificates under the STCW Convention, 1978 (as amended). Dr Md Nazrul Islam signed on behalf of Bangladesh, while Hon Sonia B Malaluan, Administrator of the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), signed on behalf of the Philippines.
Following the consultations, Dr Nazrul Islam paid courtesy calls on Ma Theresa P Lazaro, Secretary of Foreign Affairs, and H.E. Hans Leo J Cacdac, Secretary for Migrant Workers, to discuss reinforcing South-South cooperation for mutual benefit. He is also scheduled to visit a TESDA-run caregiver training institute to explore future collaboration in skills development and certification.
Both sides expressed confidence that the outcomes of the consultations would further strengthen bilateral relations in the coming years.
