ILOILO CITY—Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the Philippines Igor Anatolyevich Khovaev is proposing to hold a Russian Film Festival in this city next month.
In an interview, Mayor Jose S. Espinosa III said he has been in discussions with the diplomat early in November about developing trade, cultural and heritage exchanges during the Russian envoy’s visit here for the Agri-Aqua Investment Forum of the Panay Organic Producers Association Inc. at the Iloilo Convention Center.
Khovaev also visited this city in January for the Dinagyang Festival.
“It’s more of exploratory, but they [Embassy of Russia] are pushing [about a film festival] in December,” Espinosa said.
The mayor added the ambassador would like to show films that focus on children.
The Russian envoy would also like to explore possible investment areas as he talked about possible trade missions, the Iloilo City official added.
Espinosa also urged the envoy to encourage Russian tourists to consider Iloilo City as among their destinations.
“During January it’s very cold in Russia, so they may consider coming to Iloilo during Dinagyang,” the mayor said.
He was also informed that the department in charge of the Russian Navy has approved to make a port call in Iloilo City when it visits the Philippines next year.
Image credits: Perla Lena