President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has met with international maritime council and shipping companies in Belgium and thanked them for supporting the Philippines' seafaring industry.
Marcos had a meeting with International Maritime Employers’ Council (IMEC) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Francisco Gargiulo, several business executives, and leaders of European shipping companies and shipowners association in Brussels, Belgium on Dec. 13.
"I thank you once again for your continuing interest of the Philippines and I can feel very much that you support ... the seafaring industry of the Philippines," the President said in brief video shared by Malacañang.
He also mentioned during the meeting his administration's goal to partner with the private sector in improving its maritime industry.
According to its website, IMEC is the only international employers’ organization dedicated to maritime industrial relations. It operates from its offices in the Philippines and United Kingdom, representing 250 shipping companies located across the globe.
Currently, it has an estimated 300,000 seafarers in employment and more than 12,000 shipping vessels registered from 60 different countries.
Before arriving in Belgium for his participation in the European Union-Association of Southeast Asian Nations (EU-ASEAN) Business Summit, Marcos said that he will bring up the current state of country's maritime industry in his engagements during his trip as he vowed that the Philippines will do everything it can to address the long-time unresolved deficiencies in the country’s maritime education, particularly its compliance with the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW Convention), so as not to put Filipino seafarers at risk of losing their jobs.
READ MORE: PH to comply with EU seafaring standards — PBBM
WATCH: President Marcos meets with International Maritime Employers’ Council (IMEC) CEO Francisco Gargiulo, several business executives, and leaders of European shipping companies and shipowners association in Brussels, Belgium on Dec. 13. @manilabulletin pic.twitter.com/6FaUVZZj5j
— Betheena Unite (@MB_unite) December 13, 2022