THIS year the friendship of Pakistan and the Philippines has seen 70 springs. Official bilateral relations between the two countries commenced with the establishment of the Philippine consulate in Karachi on September 9, 1949, followed by the opening of the Philippine Embassy in Karachi in 1956 and the Pakistani Embassy in Manila in September 1957.
In 1954 both countries became alliance partners in the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization or Seato.
Pakistan’s relations with the Philippines form an important component of the former’s “Vision East Asia Policy,” which aims to enhance its collaboration with the region in diverse fields. The Philippines, a founding member of the Asean, has been a steadfast supporter of Pakistan’s efforts to strengthen institutional linkages with the regional bloc, including the South Asian country’s membership to the Asean Regional Forum and the Asia Europe Meeting.
There exists commonality of views between the two countries on various regional and international issues that have translated into a reservoir of goodwill between their leadership and peoples. Both have been closely coordinating in promoting global interfaith dialogues. They share concerns for global equity, fair trading opportunities and welfare of overseas workers.
Over that period, both countries have enjoyed resilient ties of friendship regulated through 25 cooperation agreements, as well as memoranda of understanding (MOUs) in the political, economic, commercial, defense, cultural and social fields.
Ten new draft agreements, MOUs/MOAs are currently under consideration of both countries to further expand the scope and strength of their relationship.
In 2017 a Pakistan navy ship paid a goodwill docking to the Philippines. President Duterte graced the vessel with an exclusive visit, accompanied by Defense Secretary Delfin N. Lorenzana as a special gesture of friendship with Pakistan.
Bilateral trade
THE Philippines is currently Pakistan’s 43rd-biggest partner; while Pakistan, the former’s 49th. The bilateral trade between them stood at $172 million in 2017 and 2018.
Main exports from Pakistan during that period included chemicals and compounds, rice, medical and pharmaceutical products, fruit and fruit preparations, made-up textiles, woven cotton fabric, medical and surgical instruments as well as appliances, knitted and crocheted clothes, cotton yarn, paper and paper board, tobacco, leather and allied products, and cement.
Main imports from the Philippines included automobile machinery parts, ores, iron, steel and scrap, paper, cigarettes, transmission shafts, miscellaneous edible products, fruit and fruit preparations, essential oils, chemicals and compounds, fixed-vegetable fats and oils, clothing and semiconductors.
Political consultation talks
THE fifth round of the Pakistan-Philippines Bilateral Policy Consultations was held in Islamabad at Foreign Secretary level on January 18, 2018. The two sides reviewed the entire spectrum of bilateral relations and identified opportunities and possibilities for further cooperation including in the fields of security, counterterrorism, economic development and trade, education, science and technology and agriculture.
Both expressed satisfaction with their ongoing collaboration
at the United Nations and other
multilateral fora.
Joint Economic Commission
THE Inaugural Session of Pakistan-Philippines Joint Economic Commission (JEC) at the deputy minister level was held in Islamabad on February 27 and 28, 2018. During the two-day session, detailed meetings were held between experts of the two sides focusing on trade, investments, energy, agriculture, tourism, health, as well as other industries and matters of mutual interest.
An important decision of the meeting was to conduct feasibility studies on the possibility of a preferential trade agreement between the two countries.
PAK-PHL Business Council Delegation
A 22-member high-level delegation of the Pakistan-Philippines Business Council visited Manila from February 26 to 28 as a follow-up on the decision taken at the conclusion of the inaugural session of the JEC in Islamabad on February 27 and 28.
The Department of Trade and Industry’s Deputy Minister for Industry Development and Trade Policy Group Dr. Ceferino S. Rodolfo headed the Philippine side, which had laid the fresh foundations of friendship, cooperation and investments for bilateral trade and cultural exchange between Pakistan and the Philippines.
Consul General of the Philippines in Karachi Dr. Muhammad Imran Yousuf, who is also the patron of Pakistan-Philippines Business Forum along with chairs of the both its chapters, participated in the delegation along with prominent businessmen of their regions.
The Pakistan-Philippines Business Council president in Manila Muhammad Aslam graciously made all logistical and recreational arrangements for the delegation and hosted a dinner.
Both sides duly acknowledged Ambassador Dr. Aman Rashid’s support. He also graced as a cochairman for all meetings. This visit created a new wave of exchange of ideas between the business communities of both countries.
This delegation was not limited to just importers and exporters of products, but also comprised of concrete joint-venture investments between Pakistani and Filipino partnerships, which included Royal Life Pharmaceuticals (which has invested more than $50 million in the Philippines) and Auris Hearing Audiology Centers, the latter having invested $900,000 in its six branches.
In 1954 both countries became alliance partners in the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization or Seato.
Pakistan’s relations with the Philippines form an important component of the former’s “Vision East Asia Policy,” which aims to enhance its collaboration with the region in diverse fields. The Philippines, a founding member of the Asean, has been a steadfast supporter of Pakistan’s efforts to strengthen institutional linkages with the regional bloc, including the South Asian country’s membership to the Asean Regional Forum and the Asia Europe Meeting.
There exists commonality of views between the two countries on various regional and international issues that have translated into a reservoir of goodwill between their leadership and peoples. Both have been closely coordinating in promoting global interfaith dialogues. They share concerns for global equity, fair trading opportunities and welfare of overseas workers.
Over that period, both countries have enjoyed resilient ties of friendship regulated through 25 cooperation agreements, as well as memoranda of understanding (MOUs) in the political, economic, commercial, defense, cultural and social fields.
Ten new draft agreements, MOUs/MOAs are currently under consideration of both countries to further expand the scope and strength of their relationship.
In 2017 a Pakistan navy ship paid a goodwill docking to the Philippines. President Duterte graced the vessel with an exclusive visit, accompanied by Defense Secretary Delfin N. Lorenzana as a special gesture of friendship with Pakistan.
Bilateral trade
THE Philippines is currently Pakistan’s 43rd-biggest partner; while Pakistan, the former’s 49th. The bilateral trade between them stood at $172 million in 2017 and 2018.
Main exports from Pakistan during that period included chemicals and compounds, rice, medical and pharmaceutical products, fruit and fruit preparations, made-up textiles, woven cotton fabric, medical and surgical instruments as well as appliances, knitted and crocheted clothes, cotton yarn, paper and paper board, tobacco, leather and allied products, and cement.
Main imports from the Philippines included automobile machinery parts, ores, iron, steel and scrap, paper, cigarettes, transmission shafts, miscellaneous edible products, fruit and fruit preparations, essential oils, chemicals and compounds, fixed-vegetable fats and oils, clothing and semiconductors.
Political consultation talks
THE fifth round of the Pakistan-Philippines Bilateral Policy Consultations was held in Islamabad at Foreign Secretary level on January 18, 2018. The two sides reviewed the entire spectrum of bilateral relations and identified opportunities and possibilities for further cooperation including in the fields of security, counterterrorism, economic development and trade, education, science and technology and agriculture.
Both expressed satisfaction with their ongoing collaboration at the United Nations and other multilateral fora.
Joint Economic Commission
THE Inaugural Session of Pakistan-Philippines Joint Economic Commission (JEC) at the deputy minister level was held in Islamabad on February 27 and 28, 2018. During the two-day session, detailed meetings were held between experts of the two sides focusing on trade, investments, energy, agriculture, tourism, health, as well as other industries and matters of mutual interest.
An important decision of the meeting was to conduct feasibility studies on the possibility of a preferential trade agreement between the two countries.
PAK-PHL Business Council Delegation
A 22-member high-level delegation of the Pakistan-Philippines Business Council visited Manila from February 26 to 28 as a follow-up on the decision taken at the conclusion of the inaugural session of the JEC in Islamabad on February 27 and 28.
The Department of Trade and Industry’s Deputy Minister for Industry Development and Trade Policy Group Dr. Ceferino S. Rodolfo headed the Philippine side, which had laid the fresh foundations of friendship, cooperation and investments for bilateral trade and cultural exchange between Pakistan and the Philippines.
Consul General of the Philippines in Karachi Dr. Muhammad Imran Yousuf, who is also the patron of Pakistan-Philippines Business Forum along with chairs of the both its chapters, participated in the delegation along with prominent businessmen of their regions.
The Pakistan-Philippines Business Council president in Manila Muhammad Aslam graciously made all logistical and recreational arrangements for the delegation and hosted a dinner.
Both sides duly acknowledged Ambassador Dr. Aman Rashid’s support. He also graced as a cochairman for all meetings. This visit created a new wave of exchange of ideas between the business communities of both countries.
This delegation was not limited to just importers and exporters of products, but also comprised of concrete joint-venture investments between Pakistani and Filipino partnerships, which included Royal Life Pharmaceuticals (which has invested more than $50 million in the Philippines) and Auris Hearing Audiology Centers, the latter having invested $900,000 in its six branches.