Philippine Ambassador Presents Credentials to President of Zimbabwe
Photo Credits: Government of Zimbabwe
PRETORIA 18 March 2024 – Philippine Ambassador Noralyn Jubaira Baja presented
her credentials to Dr. Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, on 13 March 2024 at the State House in Harare. The ceremony allowed for her formal accreditation as the Philippines’ envoy to Zimbabwe, with residence in Pretoria, South Africa.
In her meeting with President Mnangagwa after the ceremony, Ambassador Baja expressed her appreciation for Zimbabwe’s warm welcome and hospitality extended to her and the rest of the Filipino nationals residing and working in Zimbabwe. Ambassador Baja identified the establishment of a Philippine Honorary Consulate in Harare as one of the first steps in strengthening the bilateral relationship between the Philippines and Zimbabwe.
While recognizing the cordial relationship between the two countries, Ambassador Baja also noted the need to ramp up the two countries’ economic cooperation. This could be jump-started with the establishment of a bilateral consultative mechanism to discuss possible areas of cooperation in the fields of agriculture, tourism, mining, manufacturing, and diaspora management, among others.
President Mnangagwa echoed these sentiments and expressed hope for the signing of a memorandum of understanding on the establishment of a bilateral consultative mechanism between the two countries which will pave the way for further economic cooperation.
He also expressed gratitude for the Philippine government’s offer of COVID-19 vaccines in 2023, albeit declined due to his country’s huge stocks of vaccines at the time. Nonetheless, he maintained that Zimbabwe would remain a friend to all and an enemy to none.
Attaché Paul Vincent M. Fodra accompanied the Ambassador during the ceremony. The Philippines and Zimbabwe established diplomatic relations on 18 April 1980. END
For more information, visit https://www.pretoriape.dfa.gov.ph or https://facebook.com/PHLinSouthAfrica/
Photo Credits: Government of Zimbabwe
Photo Credits: Government of Zimbabwe
Photo Credits: Government of Zimbabwe