PH Holds Bilateral Consultations with Turkmenistan
Left photo: Philippine delegation headed by Assistant Secretary Hjayceelyn Quintana (4th from left) with Deputy Minister Vepa Hajiyev (5th from right) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan; Right photo: Assistant Secretary Hjayceelyn Quintana and Deputy Minister Vepa Hajiyev.
21 December 2017 ASHGABAT — Assistant Secretary Hjayceelyn M. Quintana of the Office of Middle East and African Affairs (OMEAA) led the Philippine delegation during bilateral consultations held with Turkmenistan on November 28 to December 02. She was accompanied during her visit to Turkmenistan by Philippine Ambassador to Iran Wilfredo C. Santos, who is the non-resident Ambassador to Turkmenistan; Consul-General Alfredo M. Borlongan; and Agricultural Attaché Gil Herico.
Meetings were held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Trade and Foreign Economic Relations, and the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs of Turkmenistan. The Philippine delegation also met with a member of the Filipino community in Turkmenistan.
The two countries discussed ways to expand bilateral cooperation in various areas, particularly in the fields of agriculture, labor, tourism, SMEs, trade, sports, and investments. Assistant Secretary Quintana discussed the great potential for exporting Philippine tropical fruits to Turkmenistan like bananas, mangoes, pineapples, coconut oil, and other agricultural products. Pending bilateral agreements on political consultations, trade and economic cooperation, culture and tourism cooperation were likewise discussed during the visit.
Both countries recognized the important role of their respective chambers of commerce, private sector representatives, and entrepreneurs, in meeting to coordinate and to cooperate with each other in enhancing relations between the two countries. END
Philippine delegation with Deputy Minister Gochmollaev Begench Hojagulyevich of the Ministry of Trade and Foreign Economic Relations of Turkmenistan.