India’s external affairs minister to visit Philippines

MANILA, Philippines — India’s Minister of External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar will undertake his second visit to the Philippines from March 25 to 27, the Department of Foreign Affairs said.

In addition to advancing trade and tourism between two of Asia’s fastest growing economies, the foreign minister’s meeting with Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo will focus on defense and maritime cooperation, food security, development, health care and financial technology cooperation.

India is the Philippines’ 15th trading partner and 13th export market, with total bilateral trade surpassing $3 billion in 2023.

The visit is part of Jaishankar’s three-country Southeast Asia tour, which also includes Singapore and Malaysia. Jaishankar first visited Manila in February 2022.