PH-Georgia Celebrates 30 Years of Diplomatic Relations
A tour of the Terminal. (Ankara PE and BICT photos)
BATUMI, GEORGIA, 23 December 2023 – A team from Philippine Embassy in Ankara led by Philippine Non-Resident Ambassador to Georgia Maria Elena P. Algabre met with officials of the Batumi International Container Terminal (BICT) in Batumi, Georgia, on 20 December 2022. Mr. Nikoloz Gogoli, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and representatives of the BICT, informed the Ambassador on the operations of the terminal and on the increased volume of services the terminal provides. Together with HR and Marketing Manager Ms. Ketevan Oragvelidze, Mr. Gogoli gave a tour of BICT to the visiting Embassy team.
BICT is one of the eight subsidiaries of the International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) in the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region. Heralded as a Filipino multinational success story, ICTSI is a leader in the field of port management and cargo handling, and the largest, independent terminal operator with operations in emerging and developed economies, including in the Asia-Pacific and the Americas.
Strategically located at the Batumi Sea Port, BICT is both a gateway for container and general cargo throughout the Caucasus and Central Asia region as well as a logistics center and primary transportation trade point in the Black Sea basin. With an increase of shipping volume since the start of the pandemic, BICT intends to increase its operations and add value-added services for its clients.
On the same day of the BICT visit, Non-Resident Ambassador Algabre met with Mr. Murtaz Devadze, Rector of the Batumi State Maritime Academy (BSMA), and Mr. Ivane Abashize, Deputy Director of the Maritime Transport Agency (MTA) of Georgia, in Batumi, Georgia. The Georgian officials welcomed the Philippines’ interest to enhance maritime cooperation with Georgia. Both the Philippines and Georgia are members of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the International Labor Organization (ILO) actively working to ensure their seafarers meet global standards. The Ambassador, Rector Devadze and Mr, Abashize Batumi also agreed to expand maritime education cooperation between the maritime institutions of both countries.
The BSMA is one of four premier maritime academies in Georgia and offers bachelor’s and graduate degrees and vocational courses in such fields as Maritime Navigation, Marine Engineering, Port Operations, and Business Administration, as well as required maritime certifications. It is home to state-of-the-art equipment, including high-tech navigation simulators and engineering facilities.
After the meeting, the Ambassador and other Embassy officials were given a tour of the Academy and its facilities.
Philippine Ambassador to Türkiye Maria Elena P. Algabre (far right) meeting with Director Irine Dkahundaridze (far left) and Deputy Director Elene Jibladze (second from left) of the Levan Mikezalde Diplomatic Training Center (DI) in Tbilisi, Georgia (Embassy photo)
On 21 December 2023, Non-Resident Ambassador Algabre met with Director Irine Dkahundaridze and Deputy Director Elene Jibladze of the Levan Mikezalde Diplomatic Training and Research Institute (DI) in Tbilisi, Georgia. The Ambassador conveyed the Philippine interest to further strengthen cooperation between DI and its counterpart in the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs, the Foreign Service Institute (FSI). FSI and DI signed a Memorandum of Understanding in 2017.
There is keen interest on both sides to share their educational and research resources, including on topics of common concern such as women’s issues, peace and security, and maritime issues. FSI is primed and ready to provide a variety of webinars and training sessions, while the DI can share an array of analytic and technical research work.
Named after a distinguished Georgian diplomat Levan Mikeladze, the DI was founded in 2011 under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of Georgia. The Institute’s mission is to become a center of excellence in providing quality education and capacity building for the MFA staff, public officials from other Georgian state institutions, and representatives of the diplomatic corps accredited to Georgia, as well as a hub for research and analytical work aimed to support the country’s foreign policy, strategy development, and implementation.
Ambassador Maria Elena P. Algabre (left) speaks with Georgian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Khvtisiashvili as Ambassador Alexander Nalbandov, Director for the Department of Asia and the Pacific Rim of the Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. (Ankara PE photo)
To cap off the 30th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between the Philippines and Georgia in 2022, Philippine Ambassador to Türkiye Maria Elena P. Algabre traveled to Tbilisi, Georgia, to meet with Georgian officials, including Deputy Foreign Minister (DFM) Alexander Khvtisiashvili on 22 December 2022.
The Ambassador and DFM Khvtisiashvili discussed the future steps in enhancing bilateral cooperation as a follow-up to the second round of Political Consultations between the Philippines and Georgia, in fields such as trade and tourism links, maritime cooperation, education exchanges, consular matters, ASEAN and diplomatic training. DFM Khvtisiashvili visited Manila in October 2022 for this political consultations, accompanied by Ambassador Alexander Nalbandov, Director for the Department of Asia, and the Pacific Rim; and Ms. Medea Tamazashvili, Second Secretary of the Division of Central and East Asian Countries.
In another key milestone, the Philippine Consulate General in Tbilisi, headed by Honorary Consul General Mr. Teimuraz Chichinadze, will celebrate this year, 2023, the 20th anniversary of its establishment. Georgia is home to an increasing number of Filipinos, including students, and is a favored tourism destination for Filipinos and OFWs from nearby regions. END
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