Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Theresa Lazaro and Croatian Foreign Minister Gordan Grlić Radman emphasized the cooperation between their countries in the fields of defense, trade and investment, and labor during a bilateral meeting held in Manila on Monday, October 13.
In her remarks, Lazaro highlighted the outcomes of discussions with her Croatian counterpart, noting the ‘potential for collaboration in maritime affairs, defense, labor, science and technology, education, and tourism.’
”On the economic front, we noted that there is much room for growth, but that this situation presents plenty of promise, with the Philippines offering opportunities for investments in the manufacturing, IT-BPO, food and beverage, and creative industries sectors,” she said.
Lazaro also vowed to strengthen the Philippines’ commitment to its partnership with Croatia further.
“Your Excellency, I congratulate you on your visit, and convey my appreciation for our wonderful discussion today. Be assured of the Philippines’ unwavering commitment towards further strengthening our partnership with Croatia,” she told Radman.
For his part, Radman emphasized that both Manila and Zagreb share a strong commitment to peace, stability, and prosperity.
“The visit takes place in the context of the progress in bilateral cooperation. We had an open and fruitful conversation and sincere exchange of views on a number of topics,” he said.
“The most complete result in our enhanced cooperation so far is strengthening the institutional framework in the field of labor and employment,” Radman added. He also supported the Philippines’ bid to be part of the United Nations Security Council for 2027-2028.
Radman’s visit marked the first-ever trip to the Philippines by a Croatian foreign minister.
In 2024, the 5th Philippines-Croatia Political Consultations were held in the Croatian capital of Zagreb.
The Philippines and Croatia established their diplomatic ties in 1993.
