The Ambassador of the Republic of the Philippines to Bangladesh, Her Excellency Ms. Nina Padilla Cainglet, paid a maiden courtesy call on the Hon’ble State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ms. Shama Obaed Islam, MP, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs today.
At the outset, the Ambassador congratulated the State Minister on her assumption of office and conveyed the warm greetings and best wishes of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines to the newly elected Government of Bangladesh led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. She expressed confidence that bilateral relations between the two countries would continue to strengthen under the new leadership. The State Minister reaffirmed Bangladesh’s firm commitment to further strengthening the longstanding friendly relations with the Philippines.
The Ambassador expressed appreciation for Bangladesh’s longstanding support for the peace process in the Philippines, including its role following the 1996 Peace Agreement, and acknowledged Bangladesh’s contributions to UN peacekeeping operations. The State Minister described the Philippines as a close friend of Bangladesh and noted that the new Government of Bangladesh is keen to further advance bilateral relations.
Both sides highlighted the shared values and strong people-to-people connections between the two countries. The Ambassador noted the presence of a sizable Filipino community in Bangladesh and recalled that during the 2nd Foreign Office Consultations, an MoU on cooperation in the seafarers’ sector had been signed.
The Ambassador informed that an MoU on nursing cooperation is expected to be signed soon, alongside two additional MoUs on labour cooperation and collaboration between the National Defence Colleges of the two countries. She also noted that the Philippines’ Minister of Agriculture is expected to visit Bangladesh for signing cooperation agreements. Cooperation in higher education and skills development, including collaboration with the Philippines’ Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), was also discussed.
The State Minister highlighted that skills development and employment generation for youth remain key priorities of the Government of Bangladesh. She noted that Bangladesh’s young demographic profile aligns well with opportunities for skilled employment in the Philippines, particularly in sectors such as health services, care giving, ICT, and business process outsourcing (BPO).
Both sides also reviewed the status of pending bilateral instruments, including MoUs on Air Services, Anti-Corruption Cooperation, and Cultural Exchange, and agreed to work towards their early conclusion. The Ambassador also expressed interest in holding the next Foreign Office Consultations next year, coinciding with the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Bangladesh and the Philippines.
Trade and investment cooperation also featured in the discussions. The State Minister highlighted potential for expanding bilateral trade and encouraging private sector engagement, including exports from Bangladesh such as pharmaceuticals, jute products, ceramics, and ready-made garments.
The Ambassador noted opportunities for Philippine investments in renewable energy, food processing, and agro-processing, as well as joint ventures and business exchanges between the private sectors of the two countries.
The State Minister also raised the issue of the Bangladesh Bank money heist, requesting continued support from the Government of the Philippines in advancing the legal and investigative process. She further expressed concern over the recent apprehension of Bangladeshi nationals in the Philippines and requested that their cases be addressed in accordance with due legal process.
Both sides also discussed cooperation in emerging sectors including the creative economy, gaming industry, youth exchanges, and cultural collaborations, as well as the possibility of organizing joint cultural events and participation in international film festivals.
The State Minister also sought the Philippines’ support for Bangladesh’s bid to become a Sectoral Dialogue Partner of ASEAN.
The meeting concluded with both sides expressing satisfaction with the positive trajectory of Bangladesh- Philippines relations and reaffirming their commitment to further strengthening cooperation across political, economic, and people-to-people dimensions.