PH Embassy Holds Maritime Forum Promoting the
Philippines as the Next Investment Destination
MARINA Administrator Malaluan responding to an inquiry during the open forum
ATHENS 09 July 2024 — The Philippine Embassy in Athens led by Ambassador Giovanni E. Palec organized “the Philippine Maritime Forum” on 10 June 2024 to promote the Philippines as the next investment destination in the shipping and maritime industry. With the ambassador were Mrs. Novelyn Palec, First Secretary and Consul Judy Barbaria G. Robianes, First Secretary and Consul Therese R. Cantada, Labor Attache Cynthia R. Cruz, Welfare Officer Marivic L. Mondina, Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) Administrator Sonia B. Malaluan, MARINA Director of Regulation Service Ramon C. Hernandez, Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Assistant Secretary for Policy and International Cooperation Mario Perpetuo Socorro Zinampan, DMW Assistant Secretary for Sea-based OFW Concerns Jerome Pampolina and OIC-Head, Maritime Training and Assessment Division of National Maritime Polytechnic, Captain Chito A. Go.
In attendance were representatives from the various shipowners, ship management companies, maritime law firms and manning agencies that had representative offices in the Philippines.
In his welcome remarks, Amb. Palec highlighted the long standing bilateral relations between the Philippines and Greece with the two countries celebrating 75 years of diplomatic relations in 2025. He noted that both the Philippines and Greece are maritime nations and this common ground has been a significant factor in their close relationship with the Philippines providing a huge number of skilled seafarers around the world and with Greece owning the biggest number of fleets globally and employing many Filipino workers. He also encouraged the representatives to form an association so that as a group they could convey their positions on certain issues related to their field as this would be beneficial to both parties.
MARINA Administrator Malaluan gave an extensive briefing on the Philippines’ thriving maritime industry, highlighting the latest trends and developments in the sector, the huge number of seafarers deployed by the country internationally and the Philippine’s shipbuilding industry which ranks as the fourth biggest worldwide. She presented various investment opportunities in the Philippines’ maritime sector and encouraged the guests to consider the Philippines as their next investment destination.
Assistant Secretary Papolina presented the various programs of the DMW aimed at upskilling and making Filipino workers more competitive globally, including in shipping and maritime-related services. He also discussed relevant laws in the Philippines that foreign companies should consider when hiring Filipino workers and how these laws facilitate the ease of doing business in the Philippines.
The presentations were followed by an open forum during which the attendees discussed their concerns, particularly in the hiring of Filipino seafarers.
The Philippine Maritime Forum was attended by around 27 representatives from various shipping and maritime companies and partners of the Philippine Embassy, including Captain Panagiotis N. Tsakos, founder of the Tsakos Group. END
Assistant Secretary Pampolina providing updates on the programs of the DMW for the Filipino seafarers
Amb. Palec and Capt. Tsakos
Representatives from shipping and maritime companies attending the forum