Visit of Czech Republic’s 1st Deputy PM to boost economic ties with Philippines

President Aquino met yesterday with Czech Republic First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Karel Schwarzenberg during a courtesy call in Malacanang.

Schwarzenberg is currently on a scheduled visit to the Philippines and Vietnam. This visit to the Philippines is expected to forge stronger economic and trade relations between the Philippines and the Czech Republic that both countries have been enjoying for more than 50 years.

In 2004, relations between the two countries deepened after the Czech Republic’s accession to the European Union on May 1, 2004 and also its entry to Asia-europe Meeting (ASEM) in October 2004.

Both events opened the door for Philippine business community into the Czech Republic and to all members of the European Union.

While the bilateral economic cooperation between the two countries is not limited to the investments of private companies, the government of the Czech Republic has been granting the Philippines official development assistance particularly for infrastructure projects.

Czech Republic also supports the Philippines in areas of sanitation, agriculture and energy.

The Philippines on the other hand exports to the Czech Republic electronics components including garments, furniture, tropical fruits and ag- ricultural products.

Accompanying Schwarzenberg were Czech Republic Ambassador to the Philippines Josef Rychtar, Section of the Foreign Ministry Director General Katrina Weissova and Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Director General Vit Kolar.

Also present were Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario and Philippine Ambassador to the Czech Republic Evelyn Austria-garcia.