PGMA off on a 3-nation swing
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President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo left early dawn today (Wednesday, Sept. 16) for a two-day official visit to
Turkey aimed at further strengthening 60 years of diplomatic relations as well to look into the conditions of some
5,000 overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) there.
The President’s visit to the Turkish capital city of Ankara and Istanbul is the first leg of a three-nation swing that
will take her to the United Kingdom and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The Department of Foreign Affairs said the President was invited by Turkish President Abdullah Gul.
The celebration of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and
Turkey this year will be the visit’s highlight.
The Philippines-Turkish diplomatic relations began with a Treaty of Friendship on June 30,1949. It was further
strengthened with their exchange of resident ambassadors in 1990 and 1991.
Diplomatic ties between the two countries gained dramatic boosts with the State Visits of President Fidel
Ramos to Turkey in March 1995 and President Suleyman Demirel to the Philippines in February 1999.
It is the 16th largest economy in the world and the sixth in Europe. Turkey is an emerging market for Philippine
exports, alongside India, South Africa, Russia and Ukraine.
Last year, trade between the Philippines and Turkey amounted to more than US$114 million, with Philippine
exports to Turkey reaching US$63 million, and Philippine imports from Turkey at US$51 million.
Turkey was the Philippines’ 43rd trading partner in 2008; 33rd as an export market and 46th as an import
source.
Philippine products being promoted in Turkey include costume/precious jewelry (especially pearls, other
precious stones), fresh/processed fruits (especially bananas, mangoes), garments/furniture, organic
chemicals, and coconut products.
While in Turkey, the President is expected to invite Turkish businessmen to invest in the Philippines particularly
in food processing (halal), garments and textile, establishment of oil depots and banking.
Presidential Spokesperson on Economic Affairs Gary Olivar, in a press briefing, said President Arroyo will also
take the opportunity to thank President Gul for Turkey’s support for the Philippines’ bid for an observer status
with the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC).
Olivar said the Philippines’ bid for an observer status with the OIC is a “major step to the success of the peace
process in Mindanao.”
The President is also scheduled to meet with OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu to solidify the
Philippines’ bid and update the latter on the progress in the Mindanao peace process.
The President is also scheduled to meet in Istanbul some of the 5,000 Filipino overseas workers in Turkey.
Olivar said Filipinos in Turkey are treated well. Most of them, he said, work for households in the diplomatic and
expatriate community or rich Turkish families.
Ten percent or approximately 500 Filipinos in Turkey are professionals and skilled workers such as engineers,
architects, doctors and teachers.
From Turkey, the President will proceed to the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia to promote the Philippines as
an attractive investment destination; to look after the welfare of Filipino overseas workers and to strengthen
bilateral relations with said countries.
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Investments and trade, OFWs, security top PGMA agenda on trips to Turkey,UK, and
Saudi Arabia
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President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo left shortly after midnight Wednesday on a chartered Philippine Airlines flight
for a visit to Turkey, United Kingdom, and Saudi Arabia.
The President was accompanied by Trade and Industry Secretary Peter Favila and Press Secretary Cerge
Remonde.
“I leave today for Turkey, the United Kingdom, and Saudi Arabia to engage the global community, improve the
economy, protect overseas Filipino workers, and enhance our national security,” said the President in a pre-
departure statement.
The President said her trips abroad enabled the country to secure important trade opportunities and foreign
investments, which resulted in 34 quarters or eight years of uninterrupted growth for the economy.
“It is this achievement that enables us to withstand the recession that is now raging around us,” the President
said. (A recession is declared when a country registers two consecutive quarters of negative growth).
The first leg of the President's journey will bring her to the Republic of Turkey upon the invitation of its president,
Abdullah Gul.
The President will be in Turkey on September 16-17 to attend the commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the
establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
The Department of Foreign Affairs said in a statement the visit to Turkey will strengthen economic ties between
the two countries.
Turkey is the 16th largest economy in the world and the sixth in Europe. It is also an emerging market (together
with India, South Africa, Russia, and Ukraine) for Philippine exports.
Last year, trade between the Philippines and Turkey amounted to more than $114 million, with exports and
imports reaching $63 million and $51 million, respectively.
Among Philippine products for further promotion to Turkey are costume/precious jewelry (especially pearls, and
other precious stones), fresh/processed fruits (especially bananas and mangoes), garments/furniture, organic
chemicals, and coconut products.
The two heads of states will discuss bilateral relations, including the Philippines' bid for observer status in the
Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), which, hopefully, will result in ending the separatist movement in
Southern Philippines.
Turkey supports the bid, and for this, President Arroyo will take the opportunity to thank president Gul.
She will also meet with Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu to
solidify the Philippines’ bid and update the latter on the progress in the Mindanao peace process.
“I will meet (Ihsanoglu) to discuss the role the 57-member nation OIC will play in the Mindanao peace process
and explore ways to expand Philippine-OIC cooperation,” the President said.
From Turkey, the President will proceed to the United Kingdom to deliver a keynote address in "The Emerging
Markets Summit" hosted by London-based news magazine "The Economist" on September 17-18, 2009.
“I am traveling to London to address a major conference on investments in emerging market economies,” the
President said.
She will join five other heads of emerging economies, namely Thailand, Ukraine, Tunisia, Turkey, and Rwanda,
who have confirmed participation in the summit.
The theme of the conference is "Globalization Redefined by Emerging Markets."
Over 300 business leaders and investors from all over the world are expected to participate in this forum, giving
the President the opportunity to share the Philippines' view on Asia's leadership in the global economic recovery
and to promote the Philippines as an investment destination.
The President is expected to highlight the resiliency and continued growth of the Philippine economy, which
posted a 1.5 percent economic growth in the second quarter of 2009.
The President also said the UK has “generously” offered its assistance and support to the ongoing peace
efforts in Mindanao, including sharing its own experience in securing peace in Northern Ireland.
From London, President Arroyo will proceed to Saudi Arabia upon the invitation of King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al
Saudi.
“My visit to Saudi Arabia will focus on strengthening bilateral relations with one of our most important allies and
in promoting the welfare of our more than one million men and women who are working there,” the President
stressed.
The President noted that Saudi Arabia is a major supporter of the Mindanao peace process and economic
development in Southern Philippines.
She added that Saudi Arabia is also home to several important corporations, which are considering to invest in
the country.
Thus, the President pointed out there is a need to follow up these investment opportunities at the highest levels
“due to the stiff competition for investments during the global economic crisis.”
While in Saudi Arabia, the President will grace the inauguration of the King Abdullah University of Science and
Technology in Thuwal, Rabigh.
The inauguration will coincide with the celebration of Saudi National Day and the Eid El-Fitr, marking the end of
holy month of Ramadan.
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