The following agreements have been concluded with the Philippines:

. Agreement on establishing flights

Athens 08.10.1949 Legal decree 2546/18.8.1953 Government Gazette 228/1953

. Agreement on recognition of sailors papers

Manila 15.1.74/6.12.74 (by exchange of verbal notes)

C. Agreement on the reciprocal abolition of the visa requirement for holders of diplomatic and service passports. Tokyo 14.5.1974 (by exchange of verbal notes)

D. Installation agreement.

Manila 28.08.1950 Legal decree 2964/1954 Government Gazette 196/1954

On 23.06.1997 an Educational Cooperation Agreement was signed in Athens, and on 24.06.1997 a Memorandum on Economic and Technological Cooperation, Promotion and Reciprocal Protection of Investments, in which the two countries pledge to sign the respective agreements in the near future.

The following agreements are still pending:

. Economic and technical cooperation

. Maritime transport

C. Reciprocal protection of investments

D. Cooperation in tourism sector

. Agreement to avoid double taxation.

In recent years the Philippines have been urging Greece to sign a social security agreement. Groups of experts from the competent ministries on each side are currently seeking convenient dates on which to commence direct negotiations.

III. Political relations

The two countries enjoy good relations. This is reflected in their cooperation in international organisations (at present both countries are non-permanent members of the UN Security Council), where there is a tradition of reciprocal support for one anothers positions.

The only official high-level visit between Greece and the Philippines was the three-day visit to our country (22.6.1997) by the then President Ramos, as a guest of the former President of the Republic.

IV. Economic and trade relations

Citizens of the Philippines represent perhaps the largest group of foreign nationals employed on Greek-owned ships. A large number of families from the Philippines are also employed in Greece. Trade between the two countries is reflected in the table below:

            Greek-Philippines trade relations

Greeces main exports are cotton, machine belts, oil, tobacco, iron, copper and aluminium goods.

Imports include basketry ware, yarn, shoes, furniture and gift items.

There is a potential for cooperation in shipping, tourism, energy and construction, given the necessary interest from the private sector.

V. Greek community

There are no more than ten Greek families resident in the capital. However, in Luzon there are more than ten families, descendants of Greek sailors who made their homes here about a hundred years ago. These families have retained their Greek names and distinguished themselves in the public life of the Philippines and in the arts, although they no longer speak Greek and have only limited contact with Greece.

VI. Embassy details