A trade mission from the Czech Republic is set to visit the country next year to pursue possible partnerships and cooperation in various fields, including defense and agriculture, Czech ambassador to the Philippines Karel Hejč said Tuesday.
The ambassador, during his courtesy call on President Marcos Jr. on Tuesday, said high ranking Czech government officials and businessmen would compose the trade mission.
He said prior to that, the Czech Minister of Agriculture, together with a business delegation that has expressed interest in doing business with some selected Filipino companies, would also visit Manila later this year.
“The opportunities are here. We just need to grab them and I’m pleased to mention that… in the next year, we will start here with the visit of the foreign committee of our parliament on so much important defense and security issues of the regional geopolitics,” HejcÌŒ said.
With his country’s geographic position in Europe and its role in past regional conflicts, it was able to enhance and develop its defense and security industry, making it one of the producers of the finest war instruments, arms and ammunition in the world, he added.
Hejč said his country has been manufacturing fighter jets, airplanes and other equipment that made its defense manufacturing sector a flagship industry of the Czech Republic.
Aside from producing “war materiel, the country also offers cooperation in training exercises, maintenance, upgrades, among others,” he added.
He invited the President to visit the Czech Republic, saying “it will be also a pleasure to show you some of the industries that are interested in working with your Armed Forces, with your Coast Guard, et cetera, et cetera.”
Hejč said Czech also manufactures small tractors used in agriculture which is among the priority industry of the Marcos administration.
The President invited HejcÌŒ and the Czech business delegation to Manila in September 2024 when a “huge fair” will be hosted and select manufacturers will present various investments opportunities available in the country.
Marcos told the Czech envoy that his government is prioritizing agriculture along with other areas to transform the Philippine economy. He said defense and security is also a major thrust for the administration.
“Your country has already been of assistance to us in proposing some vessels that we could use for the securing of our maritime waters, our maritime territory. And as you must know that this is becoming a very thorny problem that we are facing. Not only the Philippines, but I think the entire region, even extending up to the Indo-Pacific. So, there’s much that we need to attend to but I think that if we are able to have close partners and alliances, that we’ll always be a very important part of our foreign policy,” he said.
The Philippines and Czech Republic established their formal diplomatic relations on October 5, 1973.
As of December 2022, there are an estimated 4,864 Filipinos in the Czech Republic, with the majority working in the processing industry, automotive industry, repair of appliances, manufacturing, IT and communications, real estate, health, wellness and household service.
In April this year, Czech Republic Prime Minister Petr Fiala made an official visit to the Philippines.