DFA Hands Note Clearing Way for Czech Economic Cooperation Agreement
DFA Undersecretary for International Economic Relations Manuel A.J. Teehankee hands over the Note conveying the Philippine Government’s completion of its domestic requirements for the entry into force of the Philippines – Czech Republic Economic Cooperation Agreement to Czech Deputy Foreign Minister Martin Tlapa.
MANILA 24 April 2018 – Undersecretary for International Economic Relations Manuel A.J. Teehankee received Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for Non-European Countries, Economic and Developmental Cooperation of the Czech Republic Martin Tlapa at the Department of Foreign Affairs on 17 April 2018.
During their meeting, Undersecretary Teehankee handed over the Note conveying the Philippine Government’s completion of its domestic requirements for the entry into force of the Philippines – Czech Economic Cooperation Agreement (ECA). Both countries signed the ECA in Manila on 31 July 2017 and President Rodrigo Duterte signed the Instrument of Ratification on 03 April 2018. The Agreement provides for the establishment of a Joint Economic Commission which will serve as a platform to discuss trade, investments, economic cooperation and other related matters.
Deputy Foreign Minister Tlapa conveyed the interest of the Czech Republic to invest in the Philippines, particularly in the fields of defense, energy, water treatment, transport, and agriculture.
The two officials also discussed labor cooperation in light of the Czech Republic’s decision to hire overseas workers from the Philippines. With this new policy, it will be possible for the Philippines to deploy 1,000 workers to the Czech Republic every year starting this year.
Both officials also agreed to further strengthen economic relations. Total bilateral trade between the two countries reached USD 283.32 million in 2016, making the Czech Republic the country’s 31st biggest trading partner.
Mr. Martin Klepetko, Director for Asia and Pacific Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, and officials from the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Manila accompanied the Deputy Foreign Minister. END
The Philippine and Czech delegations, led by DFA Undersecretary for International Economic Relations Manuel A.J. Teehankee and Czech Deputy Foreign Minister Martin Tlapa.