31 March 2014 – Philippine Ambassador to Portugal Philippe J. Lhuillier conducted an official visit on March 19 and 20 to the Autonomous Region of Madeira, Portugal. Part of the visit’s objective was to establish contacts with local officials and discuss with them possible areas of engagement and cooperation in line with the Embassy’s economic and cultural diplomacy work plan.

During his visit to the island region, Ambassador Lhuillier met with Judge Ireneu Cabral Barreto, the Representative of the Portuguese Republic to the Autonomous Region of Madeira. This was followed by meetings with the Vice President of the Regional Legislative Assembly José Paulo Fontes and Vice President of the Regional Government João Cunha e Silva.

The three officials welcomed Ambassador Lhuillier’s intention to enhance links and cultivate relations between the Philippines and Madeira. They agreed that there is much we could learn from each other.

The Ambassador informed them that they should not ignore Southeast Asia as a potential market and destination for economic relations and that the Philippines is an ideal gateway for them to the region due to our shared Latin heritage and socio-cultural communalities.

The officials were likewise informed them of the Embassy’s plan to appoint an Honorary Consul for the Philippines in Funchal to attend to the hundreds of Filipino seafarers working on cruise ships that regularly dock in Funchal throughout the year, and to help the Embassy in its economic and cultural promotion activities. END