THE Philippines and India have committed to strengthen tourism and business relations in separate agreements signed during President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s state visit to New Delhi this week.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce Philippines Inc. (FICCI PH) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to strengthen cooperation on promoting trade missions, exchanging information and facilitating partnerships between Filipino and Indian businesses.
In a separate statement, also on Thursday, the Department of Tourism (DOT) said both countries reaffirmed their commitment to boost bilateral tourism ties with the exchange on August 5 of the signed Implementation Program on Tourism Cooperation for the years 2025 to 2028.
Marcos and Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi witnessed the ceremonial exchange of the signed agreement between Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco and India’s Minister of State for External Affairs and Textiles Shri Pabrita Margherita.
On the MOU between the Philippine and Indian chambers of commerce, the DTI said both countries are exploring opportunities in a wide range of sectors from pharmaceuticals and information technology to agribusiness and consumer goods.
“This partnership is a strong symbol of the growing economic ties between the Philippines and India. It reflects our shared commitment to advancing trade, promoting investment, and creating more opportunities for collaboration between our business communities,” Trade Secretary Cristina A. Roque, who witnessed the signing, said.
The MOU builds on a similar agreement first signed in 2019.
The DTI said by formalizing these channels, Filipino and Indian companies are expected to gain faster access to each other’s markets and benefit from simplified procedures for trade and investment activities.
Frasco, for her part, said through the signed Implementation Program “we reaffirm our commitment to work together in unlocking the full potential of our tourism linkages—from policy exchange and capacity building to investment promotion and cultural tourism.”
The DOT said the agreement outlines various joint initiatives between the Philippines and India, including exchange of best practices in areas such as wellness tourism, MICE, cruise, education, culture, adventure, as well as sustainable and responsible tourism.
The program also includes mutual efforts to encourage exchanges between tourism professionals and stakeholders, joint promotion and marketing, education and training, and tourism management and operations.
Based on DOT data, India arrivals in the Philippines reached 51,116 in January to July 2025.
With the easing of visa restrictions and establishments of direct flights between Delhi and Manila, the Philippines anticipates steady growth in Indian arrivals in the coming years, the DOT said.
A Joint Working Group composed of tourism officials from both countries will review the progress of the implementation program under the framework of the MOU on Tourism Cooperation signed between the Philippines and India in Manila on Oct. 18, 2019.
During his visit, Marcos reiterated the introduction of a visa-free country entry privileges and extended his invitation for more Indian tourists to visit the Philippines.
India, in turn, introduced a scheme to grant visa free-of-charge to Filipino tourists traveling to India.
Direct flights between the Philippines and India will start this October.
