PHL AMBASSADOR VISITS RHODES TO EXPLORE COOPERATION IN SHIPPING AND TOURISM 19 March 2014 – Philippine Ambassador to Greece Meynardo LB. Montealegre visited the city of Rhodes from February 27 to March 02 as part of the Philippine Embassy’s economic and cultural diplomacy program and touching base with the Filipino community in the area. The Ambassador, accompanied by Minister and Consul General Charmaine Rowena C. Aviquivil, took the opportunity to call on local government and private sector officials to brief them about the developments in the Philippines and discuss ways to enhance cooperation between the Philippines and Rhodes. The Ambassador met with Mr. Ioannis Mahairidis, Governor of the South Aegean Region; Mr. Stathis Kousournas, Mayor of the City of Rhodes; Mr. Nikolaos Papastamatiou, General Secretary of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Dodecanese (CCID), and Dr. Jur. Nikolas Skourtos, Director of the Aegean Institute of the Law of the Sea and Maritime Law. The Ambassador also met with the members of the Filipino community in the area. During these meetings, the Ambassador: • Pointed out the similar traits and interests shared by the Philippines and Greece, such as the presence of numerous islands in both countries’ territories, their common maritime tradition, the Christian tradition and deep religiosity, warmth and hospitality, close family ties, respect for the elders, and zest for life. He expressed hope that both countries can capitalize on these common characteristics to expand cooperation. • Briefed the officials on the positive economic developments in the Philippines as a result of the transformational leadership of President Aquino, which emphasizes openness, transparency, and the fight against corruption. He emphasized that the stellar economic performance of the Philippines, manifested by its GDP growth rate of 7.2% for 2013, investment grade ratings from all three major credit ratings agencies, translate into greater investor confidence in the Philippines, and therefore provides excellent opportunities for expanded cooperation. Further, apart from the Philippines being a market of more than 95 million people, as a member of ASEAN, it can also be a gateway for Greece to penetrate the ASEAN market through the ASEAN Free Trade Agreement • Identified possible areas of cooperation between the Philippines and Rhodes in the maritime/shipping and tourism industries. Specifically, in the maritime field, the Philippines can offer its expertise and experience in ship crewing/manning and shipbuilding/repair. In tourism, both parties can explore opportunities for joint ventures in developing tourist resorts or partnerships for tourism packages between tour/travel companies. The Philippines can also be an excellent source of both raw and finished products for hotel furniture and décor/furnishings. • Highlighted the imminent celebration of the 65th milestone anniversary of the establishment of relations between the two countries, and expressed the hope that this will pave the way for greater cooperation in terms of joint activities, people-to-people exchanges, and participation in each other’s festivals. • Discussed the various opportunities for enhanced cooperation, and informed CCID of the revitalized Philippine-Hellenic and Hellenic-Philippine Chambers of Commerce that are planning to organize a business mission to the Philippines and to Greece to look into trade and investment opportunities. He also encouraged the CCID to explore possible participation of its members in the government’s Public-Private Partnership programs. The Greek officials welcomed the visit of the Ambassador, and expressed optimism that the visit will be the start of greater cooperation between the Philippines and the South Aegean region, particularly Rhodes. They praised Filipino workers in Rhodes for their positive contribution to the economy, and for their “special characteristics” such as their industry, diligence and trustworthiness, which “set a good example for Greeks.” They also said that Filipinos in Greece are among the most well-integrated into Greek society. The Mayor of Rhodes also invited Philippine participation in planned cultural activities in Rhodes in 2021, when the city will be named as the cultural capital of Europe. The City of Rhodes is the capital of the island of Rhodes, part of the Dodecanese group of islands, and located approximately 18 kilometers southwest of Turkey in the eastern Aegean Sea. It is about 629 kilometers from Athens, and has an estimated population of 115,000 to 120,000. Tourism is the main driver of Rhodes’ economy, with over one million tourists visiting the city annually. The city hosts an estimated 150 Filipinos, most of whom are household service workers, and who are members of the Filipino Workers Association of Rhodes (FWAR) and the Union of Philippine Migrants. END
Posted on: Wed, 19 Mar 2014 03:03:24 +0000
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