Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala said on Monday that various Czech companies can offer the Philippines solutions in various fields such as agriculture, aviation, transportation.and space technologies.
Prime Minister Fiala made the remarks in a joint press statement following his bilateral meeting with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in Malacanang, where they talked about areas where their countries should cooperate more.
Fiala, who made the Philippines the first stop of his 10-day Asian tour, said he had with him a delegation of Czech businessmen as he hoped that the visit would be the start of a successful cooperation between Czech and Filipino companies.
Highlighting defense and security cooperation as a very important part of the Czech-Philippine relations, Fiala said Czech company Česká zbrojovka offers extensive modernization to the Philippine Armed Forces that could also include technology transfer.
The Czech PM also expressed gladness that the two countries are cooperating in the area of agriculture.
“Czech companies provide technological assistance and expertise to the Philippine National Dairy Authority. Czech companies can also offer technologies for storing raw milk and its processing,” Fiala said.
The premier added that he fully supports the talks about collaboration on transport aircraft and other projects in the aviation sector.
The prime minister also said that his country highly appreciates the Philippine worker recruitment system for overseas deployment, noting Czech companies are very satisfied with Philippine citizens.
“We are discussing the possibilities to expand migration for work,” Mr. Fiala said, thanking Filipinos for a warm welcome and all partners for the great cooperation in every possible field.
“I believe our meeting and visit will be a new impulse for stronger collaboration and we will be very happy to cooperate (with the) Philippine government and companies much more,” the Czech leader pointed out.
President Marcos and Prime Minister Fiala previously met in December 2022 in Brussels, Belgium on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) – European Union (EU) Commemorative Summit, where they discussed cooperation in security, particularly in the modernization program of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
Fiala arrived in the Philippines on board the presidential aircraft of the Czech air force on Sunday evening at the Maharlika Hall, Villamor
Airbase in Pasay City.
Fiala, who is in the Philippines for a three-day official visit, arrived at the Palace compound past 4 in the afternoon.
He is the second head of state to visit the country and the first European head of state to visit the Philippines under the Marcos
administration.
With the aim of enhancing bilateral ties, President Marcos and Prime Minister Fiala are expected to discuss various issues of mutual interest, including defense cooperation, trade and investment, university linkages, judicial cooperation, and labor cooperation.
The two leaders are also expected to exchange their views on regional and international issues of common concern.
The Department of Foreign Affairs earlier said Fiala’s visit to the Philippines was significant as the two countries are currently preparing for the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the start of the bilateral relations between Manila and Prague on October 5.
