Enhanced Bangladesh-Philippines Engagement Key to Regional Peace and Sustainable Growth: Philippine Ambassador

The Ambassador of the Philippines to Bangladesh has stated that enhanced bilateral engagement between Bangladesh and the Philippines would contribute significantly to regional peace, prosperity, and sustainable growth.

She made the remarks at a programme titled “Beyond Bilateral Ties: Unlocking New Avenues in Bangladesh-Philippines Cooperation”, organised by the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) at its auditorium in Dhaka on Sunday.

In her address, the Ambassador highlighted the shared values and development priorities of the two countries and underscored the immense potential for expanded cooperation in key sectors such as energy, agriculture, and education.

Major General Iftekhar Anis, Director General of BIISS, delivered the welcome address, while Professor Delwar Hossain of the Department of International Relations, University of Dhaka, presented the keynote remarks, setting the tone for the discussion.

The session was moderated by Md Ruhul Alam Siddique, former Acting Foreign Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In his presentation, Professor Delwar Hossain reviewed the historical relations between Bangladesh and the Philippines and emphasised the need to explore new areas of cooperation, including trade, investment, people-to-people connectivity, and maritime collaboration.

He also stressed the importance of strengthening diplomatic and economic ties in the evolving geopolitical landscape of the Indo-Pacific region.

According to the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) of Bangladesh, bilateral trade between Bangladesh and the Philippines reached US$149.06 million in the fiscal year 2022–23. Of this amount, Bangladesh’s exports to the Philippines accounted for US$94.82 million.