PRESS RELEASE
Department
of Foreign Affairs
2330 Roxas
Blvd., Pasay City, Philippines
*
Tel. No. 834-4000
* www.dfa.gov.ph
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No. 290; 12 June
2003
RP TO SEND DIPLOMATIC AND LABOR
MISSIONS TO CROATIA, SLOVENIA - OPLE
Geneva, Switzerland – Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas F. Ople foresees the
opening of new labor markets in Europe for Filipino workers particularly
in the fields of tourism.
Secretary Ople said Philippine honorary consuls attending the two-day workshop
sponsored by the Department of Foreign Affairs were keenly interested
in the government’s overseas employment policies.
“While awaiting the full restoration of political and economic freedoms of
Iraq, the Philippine government can also engage fledging European republics
like Croatia and Slovenia in bilateral negotiations on trade and labor
matters,” Ople pointed out.
The foreign affairs secretary said he has consulted with Labor Secretary
Patricia Santo Tomas on the formation of a joint DFA-DOLE mission to
Croatia, Slovenia and other developing European republics to study potential
areas of cooperation.
He also instructed the Philippine Embassies in Europe to actively pursue
initiatives in economic diplomacy by assisting local companies in their bid
to open up markets in the European community.
“The partnership between government and the private sector in developing
foreign markets for Philippine quality-made products must be enhanced otherwise
we will be left in the dust by our more aggressive
neighbors in Asia,” Ople noted.
During the DFA workshop, Philippine Honorary Consul General Davor Stem of
Zagreb, Croatia on job opportunities for Filipino workers.
He said the Croatian government is keen to boost tourism and travel to his
country in a bid to speed up economic growth.
Labor Secretary Sto. Tomas said Europe’s aging population requires the infusion
of a million migrants a year to keep its productivity on a steady keel.
“We are quite excited about this new frontier in the overseas labor market
because it would enable both governments to lay down a clear framework
of engagement for the benefit of both employers and our
workers,” Secretary Sto. Tomas said. END