On 13 February 2007, Greece opened its Embassy to the capital of the Philippines, Manila. Mr. Georgios-Apostolos Nikolaidis, Minister Plenipotentiary A ΄, has been appointed Greece’s first Ambassador to Manila. The opening of Greece’s Embassy in Manila shows the importance attached by our country to further developing and deepening our relations with countries of the Far East, and with the Philippines in particular, by recognising their increasing importance in the international political scene. The presence in Greece of a significant number of workers from this distant land further contributes even more to the development of good bilateral relations.

The country is an archipelago of 300,000 sq. km in the Pacific Ocean comprising 7,000 islands, with a population of 85.2 million. It was a Spanish colony for more than three centuries, it was later ceded to the US, and attained its independence in 1946. The Philippines have the highest birth rate in Asia, with the country’s population expected to double within the next 30 years. The country’s economy is significantly bolstered by remittances from large numbers of Philippine workers overseas ($10 billion in 2005).

Bilateral relations

Before the opening of Greece’s Embassy in Manila, Greece’s Ambassador to Jakarta (Thailand) had been representing the country in parallel to the Philippines, since 1997, and there was also a General Consulate in Manila. The Philippines have an Embassy in Athens since 1998.

The two countries’ good relations are particularly seen in their cooperation within international organisations. Both countries were non-permanent members of the UN Security Council. On 22 June 1997, the then President of the Philippines, Mr. Fidel Ramos, visited Greece, following an invitation by the then President of the Hellenic Republic, Mr. Konstantinos Stephanopoulos. The President of the Philippines was accompanied by Ministers, Members of the country’s House of Representatives and Senate, government officials and 40 businesspersons. During this visit, the two countries signed an Agreement on Educational Cooperation, a Memorandum on Tourist Cooperation, a Memorandum on Economic and Technological Cooperation, Promotion and Reciprocal Protection of Investments.

The Philippines’ economy was affected by the Asian financial crisis of 1998, but to a lesser degree compared to other countries, thanks to remittances from overseas workers. The country’s invariably high deficit results in a high public debt, which forces the government to spend a significant part of the state's budget on its payment.

There is room for improvement on trade and financial transactions between Greece and the Philippines. There are prospects for cooperation in the sectors of shipping, tourism, energy and constructions. A significant number of seamen working in Greek-owned ships are of Philippine origin. There is a deficit for Greece in its balance of trade with the Philippines. According to the latest figures, our exports reached $6,813,867 and imports $22,102,840. Our country’s main exports are cotton, conveyor belts, oil, tobacco, and iron, copper and aluminium goods. Our imports include basketry goods, fibres, shoes, furniture, and gift items.

Bilateral institutional framework

-          Agreement on the Establishment of Flights (1953)

-          Agreement on the Recognition of Sailors Papers (1974)

-          Installation Agreement (1954)

-          Agreement on the Reciprocal Abolition of the Visa Requirement for Holders of Diplomatic and Service Passports (1974)

-          Agreement on Educational Cooperation (1997)

-          Memorandum on Economic and Technological Cooperation, Promotion and Reciprocal Protection of Investments (1997)

The Greek Community

The Philippines do not have a significant Greek community. In the country’s capital, Manila, there are no more than 10 Greek families. There are, however, more than 10 families in Legaspi on the island of Luzon, descendants of Greek sailors who settled there about a century ago, who kept their Greek surnames and have become distinguished public figures and intellectuals. They do not however speak Greek. The Orthodox Church (Holy Metropolis of Korea) has done significant missionary work in the Philippines, founding local churches in Manila and in other cities.