MANILA – Portugal is looking to explore opportunities and possible cooperation with the Philippines on a wide range of areas, including green transition and renewable energy.
During his official visit to Manila on Friday, Portuguese Foreign Minister João Gomes Cravinho revealed that there is “plenty of interest” on the part of Portuguese companies “for all that is taking place here in the Philippines,” specifically on energy.
“It is clear to me that the relations between Portugal and the Philippines have considerable potential, despite the fact that we have known each other for 500 years, that our first contacts came in the context of the dawn of the era of globalization,” he said on the sidelines of his bilateral meeting with Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo.
“We have not in the last few years in most recent years taken full advantage of all the possibilities that do exist,” he added.
Cravinho also sees opportunities in boosting collaboration on digital transition, defense, education, maritime cooperation, tourism and agriculture.
He said Portugal hopes to take advantage of the agricultural skills of Filipinos who are “available to come overseas”.
On maritime, he conveyed Lisbon’s support for the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea-based arbitral award on South China Sea.
Manalo, for his part, agreed that Lisbon and Manila should build on strengthening food security, agricultural cooperation, and energy cooperation in light of recent crucial Philippine legislative reforms that make the country more attractive for energy investors, especially for a global leader in renewable energy production like Portugal.
Diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Portugal were established on July 4, 1946. In 2002, the two states formally signed an agreement to strengthen cultural ties and promote investments.
To date, Lisbon and Manila have agreements on tourism, social security, and diplomatic training. (PNA)
