EXPLORING potentials for cooperation and mutual benefits, as well as increased people-to-people exchanges between the Philippines and Africa, the Department of Foreign Affairs’s (DFA) Office of Middle East and African Affairs and the Office of Policy Planning and Coordination organized a forum, “Where art thou, Wakanda?—Finding Africa in Philippine Foreign Policy,” on December 13.
The event was organized as part of the DFA’s mandate to pursue an independent foreign policy by fostering deeper engagements with traditional and nontraditional partners alike, including countries in the African region.
Philippine Women’s University-Helena Z. Benitez School of International Relations and Diplomacy Associate Professor and the forum’s resource speaker Dr. Satwinder Rehal delivered a presentation that showed historical ties between the Philippines and Africa, and suggested concrete ways these two growth areas could use their shared history, as well as their common aspirations and values, to leverage existing ties.
Ambassador of South Africa to the Philippines and Dean of the African Diplomatic Corps Martin Slabber, as well as some members of the private sector, including Meralco Business Consultant Joel Aragon, GMA Worldwide Inc. Assistant Vice President for Syndication Sales Ana Sevilla, Ethiopian Airlines Country Manager for the Philippines Solomon Bekele, ABS-CBN Corp. Sales Head and Expert in Content Distribution to Africa Laarni Yu and University of the Philippines Women’s Volleyball Team Head Coach Godfrey Okumo also joined the forum as resource speakers.
The forum members shared their insights on the opportunities for doing business with Africa, as well as the challenges they have encountered in establishing their businesses in the continent. They were one in emphasizing the benefits of tapping the potentials for greater cooperation through increased commercial, cultural and people-to-people exchanges.
Finally, the forum highlighted breaking stereotypes and creating awareness about these opportunities that would close the gap and bridge the two regions, despite the geographic distance between them.
The title of the forum was adapted from the title of Rehal’s unpublished paper, “Where art thou, ‘Wakanda?’ The ‘Silence’ in Philippine Education and Foreign Policy on Africa.”
Image credits: DFA Photo