The Czech Republic is organizing visits to the Philippines involving high-ranking government officials and business delegations, citing defense and agriculture opportunities in the Philippines.

Czech Republic Ambassador to the Philippines Karel Hejč said this as he presented his credentials to President Marcos in Malacañan on Tuesday, Oct. 24.

In his remarks, Hejč said the Czech Republic needed to grab the opportunities in the Philippines.

“In the next year, we will start here with the visit of the foreign committee of our parliament on so many important defense and security issues of the regional geopolitics,” he said.

“We plan on bringing our Minister of Agriculture to Manila and to the Philippines where we want to --- naturally, our ministers travel accompanied by business delegations. So, carefully selected companies that are interested in doing business with the Philippines, with the Filipino companies, and investing in the Philippines,” he added.

According to Hejč, his country enhanced and developed its defense and security with its geographic position in Europe and its role in past regional conflicts. The country became one of the producers of the finest war instruments, arms, and ammunition in the world.

He added that his country also manufactures fighter jets, airplanes, and other equipment, which made its defense manufacturing sector the Czech Republic’s flagship industry. It also offers cooperation in training exercises, maintenance, and upgrades, among others.

“There is a lot. We certainly don't have the time for all that now but as Manila will be hosting a huge fair in September next year, I will be very happy to invite you to come to see the presentation of the selected manufacturers that will be represented in that fair,” Hejč told Marcos.

“And, if you have some time during your visit to the Czech Republic, it will be also a pleasure to show you some of the industries that are interested in working with your Armed Forces, with your Coast Guard, et cetera, et cetera,” he added.

In response, President Marcos told the Czech envoy that his government is prioritizing agriculture and other areas to transform the Philippine economy. In addition, he said defense and security are also a major thrust for the administration, considering a very thorny regional problem that the country is facing.

“Your country has already been of assistance to us in proposing some vessels that we could use for the securing of our maritime waters, our maritime territory,” he said.

“There’s much that we need to attend to but I think that if we are able to have close partners and alliances, that we'll always be a very important part of our foreign policy,” he added.

The Philippines and Czech Republic established formal diplomatic relations on October 5, 1973.

Czech Republic Prime Minister Petr Fiala arrived in the Philippines for an official visit in April this year.

In terms of trade, the Czech Republic ranked as the Philippines’ 39th trading partner, 28th export market, and 47th import supplier last year, with total bilateral trade amounting to $303.21 million.

As of December last year, there are an estimated 4,864 Filipinos in the Czech Republic, with the majority working in the processing industry, automotive industry, repairs of appliances, manufacturing, IT communications, real estate, health, wellness, and household service.