GOVPH

PHILIPPINE AMBASSADOR PRESENTS CREDENTIALS TO PRESIDENT OF INDIA

Ambassador Josel F. Ignacio formally presents his credentials to H.E. Droupadi Murmu, President of the Republic of India

27 March 2024, NEW DELHI -  Philippine Ambassador Josel F. Ignacio presented today his Letters of Credence to Hon’ble Smt. Droupadi Murmu, President of the Republic of India, formally accrediting him as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of the Philippines to the Republic of India.

The solemn ceremonies were held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan (Presidential Palace).

After presenting his credentials, Ambassador Ignacio was received in audience by President Murmu, during which the Ambassador conveyed the felicitations of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. and the Filipino people.

In their respective remarks, President Murmu and Ambassador Ignacio both welcomed the conspicuous enhancement of Philippine-Indian relations.

They acknowledged the steady gains in high-level dialogues, bilateral merchandise trade, agriculture cooperation, Indian investments in the Philippines, as well as Indian participation in Philippine infrastructure projects.

They also welcomed the expansion of engagement into newer avenues, such as defense as exemplified by the Philippines’ acquisition of BrahMos missiles.

The Indian Head of State and Ambassador Ignacio also recognized the two countries’ historical and cultural bonds and shared democratic heritage, and committed to work towards enhanced connectivity and people-to-people exchanges.

Ambassador Ignacio being received in audience by President Murmu. The Ambassador was accompanied by Third Secretary and Vice Consul Mark Anthony P. Dizon and Third Secretary and Vice Consul Mark Anthony G. Articulo.

They also touched on common interests in regional developments and issues of shared import for the nations. Ambassador Ignacio welcomed burgeoning maritime security cooperation between the two countries and India’s vocal support for the Philippines’ assertion of its sovereignty and sovereign rights in the maritime domain as buttressed by international law.

They exchanged greetings on this year’s 75^th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, taking the occasion to renew both governments’ commitment to sustaining the ongoing expansion of engagement across the entire spectrum of ties.

Emphasizing the upward trajectory of ties, Ambassador Ignacio’s formal and full accreditation comes on the heels of Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar to the Philippines on 25-27 March, during which further impetus was added to the various initiatives in the agenda of the relationship. END

Amb. Ignacio and his suite: (L-R) Attaché Annalyn Vallena, DAFA Col. Rolando Gomez, Third Secretary Mark Anthony Dizon, Amb. Marian Jocelyn R. Tirol-Ignacio, Third Secretary Mark Anthony G. Articulo, Commercial Counsellor Eugenio Elevado Jr.

Ambassador Ignacio being welcomed by personnel of the Embassy and Philippine Country Team in New Delhi upon returning from the Presidential Palace.

Strong Tailwind Seen Propelling PH-India Ties at Ambassador-designate’s Call on New External Affairs Secretary (East)

NEW DELHI -  Overall relations between the Philippines and India have been revitalized and are seen attaining new highs and milestones.

Such was the shared assessment coming out of the courtesy call of Ambassador-designate Josel F. Ignacio on the Ministry of External Affairs’ newly assumed Secretary (East), Shri Jaideep Mazumdar on 20 March.

The meeting was a reunion for the two officials. Secretary Mazumdar was India’s Ambassador to the Philippines from 2017 to 2020, partly coinciding with Ambassador-designate Ignacio’s stint in Manila as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Asian and Pacific Affairs (2018-2021). A highlight of their collaboration was the 70^th anniversary of diplomatic ties in 2019, culminating with then President Ram Nath Kovind’s visit to the Philippines.

Amb. Ignacio, with Third Secretary Dizon, survey the rich bilateral agenda with Secretary Mazumdar

During the cordial meeting, both sides welcomed the substantial and notable uptick in bilateral engagement, including in the defense and security sphere via the Brahmos missile system deal. They expressed satisfaction at the frequency of high-level visits and dialogues, as attested by the Philippine visit of External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar on 25-27 March.

Ambassador-designate Ignacio and Secretary Mazumdar also surveyed the state of bilateral cooperation in commerce, agriculture, people-to-people ties, air connectivity, and newer areas such as Financial Technology and AI. They also discussed regional security developments of shared import.

The two officials resolved to bring their respective offices to bear on the advancement of the rich bilateral agenda. The 75^th anniversary of Philippine-Indian diplomatic relations this year is seen as presenting further impetus and opportunity to sustain the newfound vitality of cooperation.

The Filipino diplomat expressed optimism that Secretary Mazumdar’s credentials, coupled with his familiarity with the contour of bilateral relations will be instrumental in driving ties onto an ever higher track and along multiple vectors.

Also present at the call were Third Secretary and Vice Consul Mark Anthony P. Dizon and Attaché Rogelio Silva, and MEA-South Undersecretary Ms. Juhi Jalota. END

Ambassador Attends Forum on Indian Ocean Rim Association’s Role and Contributions; Key Lessons Drawn for PH and Indo-Pacific

TOP: Ambassador Ignacio is greeted by ICWA Director General Ambassador Vijay Thakur Singh; Ambassador Ignacio exchanges views with panelist Capt. Sarabjeet Singh Parmar; BOTTOM: Full capacity audience at the IORA Forum.

New Delhi – Ambassador-designate Josel F. Ignacio attended the Forum hosted by the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA) on 07 March 2023 to commemorate the 27^th year of the establishment of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA).  

Themed “Securing the Indian Ocean Region Towards a Cooperative, Prosperous, Sustainable and Peaceful Region,” the event saw the participation of eminent resource persons.

Joint Secretary for Indo-Pacific Ms. Paramita Tripathi of the Ministry of External Affairs was joined by South Asian University Dean Prof. Sanjay Chaturvedi, United Service Institution of India (USII) fellow Capt. Sarabjeet Singh Parmar, and Vice Admiral (Retd.) Anil Chopra of the Delhi Policy Group (DPG).

In attendance were members of the diplomatic corps, academe, university students, and distinguished fellows from leading think tanks in India. Third Secretary (Political) Mark Anthony P. Dizon and Attaché Rogelio Silva accompanied the Ambassador.

The panel discussion highlighted the importance of IORA in the maintenance of peace and stability in the Indian Ocean and India's role in advancing the organization’s key priorities, particularly in maritime security and trade, disaster risk management, and climate change.

Critically for the Philippines, the event also provided rich insights into Indian Ocean developments that impinge on larger dynamics across the Indo-Pacific. It also shined a light on the complementarities of ASEAN and IORA priorities, including the convergence of the key pillars of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) and India’s Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI).

The panel discussion spotlighted the importance of the international rules-based order, particularly the UN Convention of the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in the maintenance of free, open, and inclusive space. The peaceful settlement of maritime border disputes in the Indian Ocean using UNCLOS mechanisms – echoed by the Philippines’ recourse to arbitration and the Arbitral Award it obtained in 2016 for the South China Sea -- was held up as an example.

IORA is a regional grouping established in 1997 that brings together 23 member countries. India is one of the founding members of the bloc, while four ASEAN countries, namely Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore, are also members.

The ICWA is an autonomous international affairs think tank and research institution funded by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs. Founded in 1943, it promotes an Indian perspective on international relations. END