New phase for India-PH partnership
In January, India marked its 76th Republic Day alongside the 75th anniversary of its diplomatic relations with the Philippines at Shangri-La at the Fort, with members of the diplomatic and consular corps in attendance. Ambassador Harsh Kumar Jain said that the relationship between the two nations traces its roots to ancient times, evidenced by the Laguna Copperplate Inscription, Sanskrit influences in Tagalog, and the Filipino adaptation of Ramayana known as “Maharadia Lawana.”
Today, this longstanding connection has blossomed into a dynamic modern partnership between two of Asia’s vibrant democracies. Bilateral trade between India and the Philippines has surpassed $3.5 billion, with cooperation spanning multiple sectors such as defense, technology, and infrastructure, and security. India’s emergence as a global leader in technology, pharmaceuticals, and space innovation allows it to bring significant capabilities to this partnership.
Jain noted that the relationship was entering an ambitious new phase. Recent developments, including the Philippines’ introduction of an e-visa scheme for Indian nationals and plans for direct flights, underscored what External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar described as a friendship “poised to move to a higher orbit.”
Jain believes these initiatives will strengthen the two countries’ shared democratic ideals and consolidate their partnership in the coming years.
