Page 34 - Hello Philippines January 2016 'A' Issue

34 www.hello-philippines.com PHILIPPINE EMBASSY AROUND THE WORLD January 2016 – No. 01 • UK & Europe Edition

Bangladesh, Sri Lanka Businesses Seek Greater
Trade and Investment Ties with the Philippines
BUSINESS delegations from trade and investment ties with the Philippine Business Conference and
Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are keen to Philippines. Exposition (PBC&E) held in Mariott Officials of Sri Lanka-Philippine Business Council (BPCCI) pay a courtesy call on Undersecretary Laura del Rosario,
expand two-way investments with the Hotel, New Port City Complex, Pasay Undersecretary for International and Economic Relations.
Philippines in various areas, including The Bangladesh and Sri Lankan City last October 26 to 27.
in agriculture, information and business delegations cited various Bangladesh (with concurrent Michael Ignacio, accompanied the
communications technology, education opportunities for mutually beneficial The Sri Lanka-Philippine Business jurisdiction over Sri Lanka), Vicente delegates to the PBC&E event and
and tourism. collaboration with the Philippines in Council (SLPBC) was headed by Vivencio T. Bandillo, and Philippine other business meetings. n Philippine
trade and investments, particularly Honorable Rishad Bathiudeen, Trade Counsellor to New Delhi, Mr.
In separate courtesy calls on in agriculture, information and Minister of Trade and Commerce of Embassy Philippines / December 21, 2015
Undersecretary for International communications technology and Sri Lanka. Philippine Honorary Consul
Economic Relations Laura Q. Del tourism. to Colombo Hugh Sriyal Dissanayake
Rosario, the Bangladesh–Philippine accompanied the delegation.
Chamber of Commerce and Industry Undersecretary del Rosario
(BPCCI) and the Federation of welcomed the interest of Bangladesh The Bangladesh delegation was
Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Sri Lanka and stressed that comprised of members from the
and Industry (FBCCI) based in Dhaka the expressions of interests can be Bangladesh–Philippine Chamber of
and the Sri Lanka-Philippine Business transformed into concrete outcomes. Commerce and Industry (BPCCI) and
Council (SLPBC) based in Colombo the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers
expressed their desire for greater The business delegations from of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI).
Bangladesh and Sri Lanka were in
the Philippines to attend the 41st Philippine Ambassador to Dhaka,

2015 Message for Christmas and the New 19 Filipinos from Syria Coming Home in Time for the Holidays
Year of Secretary Albert F. Del Rosario NINETEEN (19) Filipinos from The Filipinos will be travelling on by the Syrian government.

MY Dear Colleagues: Syria, including two children, will be December 23 by land from Damascus, Syria The new batch of repatriates brings

joining their families and friends in the to the Lebanese Masna’a border where the total number of Filipinos repatriated

As we celebrate this Holiday Season Philippines in time for the holidays. a team from the Philippine Embassy in from Syria to 5,942 since the unrest

in the spirit of renewal, reform and They will be arriving on December 24 Beirut will be facilitating their transit from started in 2011. Of this figure, 2,715 were

reconciliation, we continue to witness at the Terminal 1 of the Ninoy Aquino the Masna’a border to Beirut’s Rafik Hariri repatriated through Lebanon, with the

the Philippines’ emergence as one of International Airport at 3:10 p.m. via International Airport. cooperation of the Philippine Embassy

the world’s growth engines. flight QR 932. Meanwhile, the Philippine Embassy in in Beirut.

Indeed, in terms of international The repatriation, in line with the Damascus continues to coordinate with With the MRP still in place, the

diplomacy, 2015 has been a really good ongoing Mandatory Repatriation the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Philippine Embassy in Damascus

year for the Philippines. Program (MRP) for Filipinos in Syria, was Expatriates for the issuance of exit visas strongly encourages the next-of-kin

From a successful APEC hosting facilitated through the joint effort of the for OFWs who are currently sheltered at of Filipino workers who remain in

in November and the launch of an Philippine Embassy in Damascus, Syria the Embassy’s Halfway Quarters. Syria to provide information on their

ASEAN Community this month, to and Beirut, Lebanon with the support As in the past, the issuance of the exit family member’s whereabouts so that

forging Strategic and Comprehensive of the International Organization visas to the 19 Filipinos, and payment of immediate assistance can be extended

Partnerships with key allies and as ASEAN in working together towards for Migration (IOM). IOM-Damascus other fees and related exit requirements to them. n Philippine Embassy Philippines /
partners in the region, the Philippines achieving our common goals of shared shouldered the airfare costs.
and penalties were facilitated and waived December 22, 2015
is increasingly recognized as a force for prosperity and inclusive growth for all.

good. We strongly encourage our Asean Committee in Santiago Holds Luncheon Talk
Guided by the Aquino international partners and the business CHARGE d’Affaires Raisa A. the Pacific Gap held on November 30 exchanges and the need for the ACS to
administration’s good governance community to take part in adding Mabayo of the Philippine Embassy in at the Malaysian Embassy Building in work harder towards bringing ASEAN
agenda, the Department of Foreign meaningful chapters to the Philippines’ Santiago was one of the guest speakers Avenida Tajamar, Las Condes, Santiago into the mainstream.
Affairs continues to adhere to high growth story. at the ASEAN Luncheon Talk: Bridging City. The talk was organized by the
standards in our daily tasks, whether Embassy of Malaysia, which currently Malaysian Ambassador Dato’ Dr.
As we count our blessings for the Mohamad Rameez Yahaya delivered

in our policy, consular or protocolar past year, please accept my most serves as the Chairman of the ASEAN the welcome remarks, during which

work, and in our tireless efforts to profound appreciation for all your Committee in Santiago (ACS). he gave a background on ASEAN

promote the welfare, protect the rights commitment, contributions, hard work Ms. Mabayo’s talk centered on the and ACS activities in Chile. Other

and uphold the dignity of our overseas and above all, for “reaching beyond establishment of the ASEAN Socio- speakers included representatives

Filipinos. your grasp.” I am truly honored to be Cultural Blueprint and the need to from the Embassy of Thailand,

We have succeeded in helping working with all of you. promote ASEAN as a unified identity Malaysia, Indonesia and Viet Nam,

define our foreign policy as principled, I wish you and your loved ones all and as a community in Chile and South who each talked about the ASEAN

independent and based on the rule of the very best of the Blessed Season and America through further engagement Economic Community Blueprint,

law. for the New Year! n of the ACS with both the government ASEAN Political-Security Community
ALBERT F. DEL ROSARIO and the communities. She emphasized Blueprint and the ASEAN Community
We advocate for the value

proposition of regional platforms such Secretary of Foreign Affairs the need for stronger people-to-people as a whole.

Among the guests were

PHL Ambassador Cals on Metropolitan Hilarion of the Russian Orthodox Church businessmen and members of the
academe, including Mr. Manfred

Philippine Ambassador to Russia Carlos D. Sorreta PHILIPPINE Ambassador to Russia Sorreta stated that the presence of Wilhelmy von Woff, Executive Director
with His Eminence Hilarion, Metropolitan of the Carlos D. Sorreta called on his Eminence the Russian Orthodox Church in the of the Fundacion Chilena del Pacifico,
Russian Orthodox Church, at the Danilov Monastery Hilarion, Metropolitan and Chairman of country could distribute in deepening who also shared his views on the
in moscow, on December 22. the Moscow Patriarchate Department mutual awareness and understanding importance of ASEAN to Chile.
for External Church Relations, on between Filipinos and Russians, which
December 22 at the Danilov Monastery, is an important condition for closer and The ACS is composed of members
in Moscow. more vibrant cooperation between the of the five ASEAN members that
Philippines and Russia, especially in maintain Missions in Chile, namely
Ambassador Sorreta and His Eminence such areas as tourism and trade. Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines,
Hilarion discussed the nascent Russian Thailand and Viet Nam. Chairmanship
Orthodox community in the Philippines His Eminence Hilarion stated that of the group rotates every four months,
that traces its roots to the White they are open to pursuing cooperative from a previous six-month period, and
Russians who took refuge in Tubabao, activities with the Embassy. n Philippine will be assumed by the Philippines
Samar from 1949 to 1951. Ambassador after Malaysia beginning April 2016.
Embassy Philippines / December 28, 2015
n Philippine Embassy Philippines / December 28, 2015