SFA-AGR-200-08

TEAM PHILIPPINES-TURKEY CREATED AT FIRST CONFERENCE OF THE HEADS OF PHILIPPINE CONSULAR POSTS IN TURKEY

31 March 2008 – In order to harmonize the plans and actions of the Philippine Embassy and the honorary consular posts in Turkey, Ambassador Bahnarim A. Guinomola created Team Philippines-Turkey during the first ever Conference of the Heads of Philippine consular missions in Ankara on 17 March.

In his opening remarks, Ambassador Guinomla said “the aim of the conference is to map out and harmonize all Philippine consular posts’ strategies to promote bilateral trade, investment and tourism cognizant of the economic opportunities present in both countries.”

The conference also threshed out and consolidated the economic diplomacy plans of the embassy and the consulates, including flagship projects such as establishment of the RP-Turkey Joint Business Council, showcasing Philippine products in Turkey, sending of a Turkish business delegation to the Philippines, planning of activities for the 60^th anniversary of the establishment of Philippine-Turkey bilateral relations on 13 June 2009, increasing tourism arrivals from Turkey, promotion of the country as Turkey’s gateway to the Asia-Pacific, and convening the RP-Turkey Joint Economic Commission and cultural exchanges.

Guinomla also stressed the need to revive bilateral agreements between the Philippines and Turkey covering diverse areas of bilateral concerns which were signed many years ago during the visits of former President Fidel V. Ramos to Turkey in 1995, and President Suleyman Demirel to Manila in 1999.

The formation of the Joint Business Council was given priority during the meeting because of its critical role in enhancing bilateral economic relations between the two countries.  The JBC will meet regularly in the Philippines and in Turkey on dates and venues they will mutually agree on and preferably to coincide with trade exhibitions/fairs.

Ambassador Guinomla emphasized that the economic resurgence of Turkey combined with the impressive showing of the Philippine bilateral trade relations vis-à-vis Turkey as manifested by the Philippines’ securing significant trade surplus continuously for three years (2004-2006) should inspire the Philippine government and private sector to be more pro-active in its efforts in accelerating trade, investment, and tourism possibilities between the Philippines and Turkey.

At the end of 2007, RP-Turkey two-way trade per Turkish figures was valued at US$236 million.

The conference, which was chaired by Ambassador Guinomla, was participated in by Honorary Consul General to Istanbul Rasim Zaimoglu, Honorary Consul to Mersin Suku Diyab, Honorary Consul to Izmir Ender Yorgancilar, and Honorary Consul to Tbilisi, Georgia Teimuraz Chichinadze, Consul General Alfonso Ver, Vice Consul Leilani Feliciano, and staff from the Philippine embassy and the honorary consulates.

The Ambassador also urged the conference participants to make use of the local media to be more effective in their work given that they are native speakers of the Turkish language.

In addition to the honorary consuls and their staff, Ankara-based businessmen were also invited by the Ambassador to a luncheon he hosted.  END

gary