ISRAELI Foreign Minister Eli Cohen is in Manila for a two-day visit aimed at forging a stronger relationship between the two countries in the area of agriculture, technology and economic ties.
Accompanying Cohen, who arrived late Sunday, is an Israeli business delegation that the embassy said would meet with Filipino business executives to determine ways to further increase trade and economic cooperation.
Cohen yesterday paid a courtesy call on President Marcos Jr. in Malacañang after meeting with his Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo.
Malacañang said Cohen’s visit is “the first time in 56 years” for an Israeli foreign minister.
Israeli Ambassador Ilan Fluss said, “Israel and the Philippines are celebrating their 65th anniversary of friendly relations this year. The visit of Israel’s Foreign Minister to the Philippines reassures that Israel is a friend and an ally of the Philippines, and we see the relations flourishing further in the years to come.”
Fluss said Cohen’s visit is a “strong political and economic message,” a reciprocity to the visit of former President Rodrigo Duterte to Israel in 2018 which paved the way for the opening of the Israeli defense and economic attaché offices in Manila, as well as the signing of agreements on the deployment of Filipino workers and expansion of defense cooperation.
Manalo and Cohen inked an agreement that is expected to boost the two countries’ efforts in addressing environmental challenges.
“This agreement will provide opportunities for both Israel and the Philippines to share best practices on how to address common challenges related to the environment, preservation of ecosystems, disaster risk management, and promotion and dissemination of environmental technologies,” Manalo said.
He said the agreement will further boost the two countries’ efforts to prevent and address water pollution, adapt to climate change, properly manage wastes, and protect biodiversity.
Manalo said the Philippines and Israel are also working closely to deepen cooperation, especially in the areas of defense and security and agriculture.
“We are also exploring further opportunities in science and technology, trade, energy and counter-terrorism. Our dialogue allows us to discuss the whole range of bilateral cooperation between the Philippines and Asia,” Manalo added.
Cohen took note of the relations between Israel and the Philippines, calling it “important and strategic” even as he said that more could be done to further enhance ties.
He said aside from agriculture, environment, technology and defense, other areas of cooperation that the two countries could further work on are in the tourism and cyber security.
Cohen also urged Manila to open direct flights between the two countries, that will contribute to tourism and to the business sector as well.
Last year, the estimated bilateral trade of Israel and the Philippines in both goods and services reached more than $534 million, with Israeli imports from the Philippines growing by 39 percent compared to 2021, reaching $193 million worth of goods.
Israel is also a strong partner of the Philippines in the defense and security sectors, with the former having supplied military equipment to the Armed Forces of the Philippines, including long-range air defense radars, unmanned aerial surveillance vehicles and Spyder surface-to-air missile systems for the Philippine Air Force, 155mm self propelled and towed howitzers to the Army and Marines, Shaldag MKV fast attack craft and Spike NLOS missile system to the Philippine Navy, among others.
