MEA Additional Secretary Shankar welcomes Ambassador-Designate Ignacio
NEW DELHI, 23 January – Entering his second week in India, Philippine Ambassador-Designate Josel F. Ignacio paid an introductory courtesy call on Honorable Ravi Shankar, Additional Secretary and Head of the Southern Division of the Ministry of External Affairs, which oversees relations with the Philippines.
Additional Secretary Shankar warmly welcomed Ambassador-designate Ignacio and expressed good wishes as he commences his duties.
Ambassador-Designate Ignacio and Additional Secretary Shankar engaged in extensive discussions covering a wide range of priority matters and initiatives impinging on bilateral ties.
Both sides welcomed the steady gains of the overall relationship, which significantly is turning 75 this year.
They committed to continue working in lockstep towards the realization of near- and longer-term objectives across the entire gamut of engagement areas.
They considered the status of collaborative endeavors in the traditional domains of trade and investments, and cultural and people-to-people exchanges. Ambassador-Designate Ignacio and AS Shankar touched as well on driving forward interaction in spheres that have seen greater importance in recent years, such as defense procurement and maritime cooperation, as well as novel sectors like financial technology.
Both sides also affirmed their desire to see through appropriate commemorative activities in the pipeline in honor of the platinum jubilee of Philippines-India ties.
On hand were Third Secretary (Political and Economic Affairs) Mark Anthony P. Dizon, and Mr. (Cmdr.) Arunava Bhattacharyya, Officer on Special Duty (OSD) of the MEA’s South Division.
Ambassador-Designate Ignacio arrived in India on 14 January, and is presently undertaking rounds of introductory formalities with key interlocutors in the MEA, the diplomatic community, and the Philippines’ many partners across India. END
(L-R) Cdr Bhattacharya, Additional Secretary Shankar, Ambassador-Designate Ignacio, and Third Secretary (Political Affairs) Mark Anthony Dizon during the courtesy call
Ambassador-Designate Ignacio and Additional Secretary Shankar engaged in extensive discussions covering a wide range of priority matters and initiatives impinging on bilateral ties.
Both sides welcomed the steady gains of the overall relationship, which significantly is turning 75 this year.
They committed to continue working in lockstep towards the realization of near- and longer-term objectives across the entire gamut of engagement areas.
They considered the status of collaborative endeavors in the traditional domains of trade and investments, and cultural and people-to-people exchanges. Ambassador-Designate Ignacio and AS Shankar touched as well on driving forward interaction in spheres that have seen greater importance in recent years, such as defense procurement and maritime cooperation, as well as novel sectors like financial technology.
Both sides also affirmed their desire to see through appropriate commemorative activities in the pipeline in honor of the platinum jubilee of Philippines-India ties.
On hand were Third Secretary (Political and Economic Affairs) Mark Anthony P. Dizon, and Mr. (Cmdr.) Arunava Bhattacharyya, Officer on Special Duty (OSD) of the MEA’s South Division.
Ambassador-Designate Ignacio arrived in India on 14 January, and is presently undertaking rounds of introductory formalities with key interlocutors in the MEA, the diplomatic community, and the Philippines’ many partners across India. END
