THE British Ambassador to the Philippines has received one of the highest forms of recognition by the Queen of England for service in foreign and Commonwealth affairs, an Embassy statement from Manila said.
The statement of the British Embassy said the Buckingham Palace announced on June 16 the appointment of Ambassador Asif Ahmad as Companion of the Order of St. Michael and St. George, “one of the highest forms of recognition by Her Majesty for service in foreign and Commonwealth affairs.”
“The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George traces its history to 1818, with its motto- Auspicium Melioris Aevi (Token of a better age). The ranks of the Order are: Knight/Dame Grand Cross, Knight/Dame Commander, and Companion, the rank which Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth of England gave Ambassador Ahmad.
Ambassador Ahmad CMG has served as Ambassador to the Philippines and Palau from July 2013.
Prior to that, he was Ambassador to Thailand and Laos. In August, 2017, he will assume his new four-year assignment as High Commissioner to Jamaica.
Under Ahmad and his predecessor Stephen Lillie, the Embassy of Britain in Manila has taken active role in the growing international support to the peace process between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
The United Kingdom has also opened the Northern Ireland experience with the Belfast Agreement, as one model for Philippine legislators and peace researchers in crafting a legal framework on a grant of self-rule to the Bangsamoro.
During his term in the Philippines, Asif Ahmad CMG witnessed the delivery of UK assistance to victims of Typhoon “Yolanda.”
Two-way trade and investment has reached record highs, including being the second fastest-growing global market for British exports in 2015.