The Philippines and India called for greater cooperation between the business and industry sectors of both countries during the 1st Philippines-India Joint Commission on Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC) in New Delhi, India last March 15, 2011. In particular, India welcomed the announcement of initiation of flights of the Philippine Airlines between Manila and Delhi six times a week starting March 28.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. Del Rosario (right) and Indian Minister of State for External Affairs Smt. Preneer Kaur (left) led the Philippine and Indian delegation, respectively, during the inaugural JCBC.
“As this is also my maiden JCBC meeting so to speak I am pleased to have it with India—a strong and enduring partner of the Philippines for more than 60 years. A cursory look of our bilateral relations point to many potentials and opportunities that we could both explore and take advantage of, as we move our parternship forward,” Secretary Del Rosario said.
The Foreign Ministers were also pleased to note that the target of US$1 billion in bilateral trade by 2010, set by the Joint Working Group on Trade and Investment at its 10th meeting in New Delhi during 21-22 November 2008, was met.
Both sides were encouraged by the recent import of capital goods from the Philippines to India in the form of two 175,000 dead weight tones (dwt)-container ships, MV Rahi and MV Vanshee, which was brought by an Indian company from a Philippine enterprise. The naming ceremony of the ships were attended by President Benigno S. Aquino III last January.
