DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS 
P R E S S  R E L E A S E
www.dfa.gov.ph                                                                                           2330 Roxas Blvd., Pasay City, Philippines                                                                                 Tel. No. 834-4000 

SFA-AGR-534-05                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             02 August 2005

PHILIPPINES, TURKEY  HOLD   PREPARATORY  MEETING FOR  THE  FIRST SESSION  OF  THE  JOINT  ECONOMIC  COMMISSION

2 August 2005 -  The Department of Foreign Affairs announced the holding in Manila on 27 and 28 July 2005 of the Preparatory Meeting for the First Session of the Philippines-Turkey Joint Economic Commission (RP-Turkey JEC).

The Office of European Affairs, DFA explained that the RP-Turkey JEC is a mechanism established under the Agreement between the Republic of the Philippines and Republic of Turkey on Economic and Technical Cooperation signed in Manila in February 1999 during the State Visit of then Turkish President Suleyman Demirel.  The JEC is envisioned to be at the ministerial level and will serve as the main venue for both countries for  discussing  economic issues of mutual concern.

Mr. Ramon Vicente Kabigting, Director of the Bureau of International Trade Relations, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI),  led the Philippine delegation composed of officials from other Philippine government agencies including the Department of Foreign Affairs (represented by the Office of European Affairs and the Office of the Undersecretary for International Economic Relations).  Mr. Tevfik Mengü, Director-General of Agreements, Undersecretariat of Foreign Trade, headed the Turkish delegation.

The Philippine and Turkish Governments agreed to hold a  preparatory meeting in Manila  in order to determine the agenda items and the scope of discussions of  the 1st RP-Turkey JEC.

During the Preparatory Meeting, both sides discussed various economic issues and agreed to enhance cooperation in areas such as trade and investment, banking, products standardization, customs, energy, environment and forestry, health, small and medium enterprises, transportation and communication, postal services, and contracting and consultancy services.

After the Meeting, Mr. Mengü paid courtesy calls on DTI Senior Undersecretary Thomas Aquino and Mr. Donald Dee, President of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The Office of European Affairs said the Philippine and Turkish sides agreed to further consult each other on the date and venue  of the 1st  RP-Turkey JEC. END
 
 

/jay