GOVPH

PROMOTING PHILIPPINES-KOREA TRADE OPPORTUNITIES FOR KOREAN IMPORTERS

(4^th from Left) Ambassador Maria Theresa Dizon-De Vega and (center) Chairperson of the Korea Importers Association (KOIMA) Mr. Byung-Kwan Kim with representatives of KOIMA member companies during their meeting on 18 April 2022 at the KOIMA headquarters. Photo courtesy of KOIMA

18 April 2022, Seoul - Ambassador Maria Theresa Dizon-De Vega called on newly-installed Chairperson Byung-Kwan Kim of the Korea Importers Association (KOIMA). Both recognized the importance of working together in order to recover from the effects of the COVID pandemic and to further strengthen the economic relations between the Philippines and Korea. Ambassador Dizon-De Vega also discussed an array of opportunities for the private sector once the Philippines- ROK Free Trade Agreement comes into full implementation.

Ambassador Dizon-De Vega invited Chairman Kim to organize another KOIMA business mission to the Philippines to explore new products that can be imported in Korea. The Philippines will be participating in the upcoming Import Goods Fair (IGF) organized by KOIMA, one of the major trade shows in Korea.

After the Courtesy call, Ambassador De Vega and Commercial Counselor Jojie Dinsay met with 5 KOIMA member companies to introduce new products from the Philippines. END

Ambassador Dizon-De Vega was joined by Philippine Commercial Counselor Jose Ma “Jojie” Dinsay during the meeting with Chairman Byung-Kwan Kim. Photo courtesy of KOIMA

PHILIPPINES PROMOTES GREATER FILM COOPERATION WITH BUSAN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

Ambassador De Vega with (left) BIFF Asian Contents and Film Market Director Oh Seok Geun and (right) BIFF Chairperson Lee Yong-Kwan 

18 April 2022, Seoul – Philippine Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega met with Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) Chairperson Lee Yong-kwan on 15 April 2022 at the BIFF Headquarters in Busan, South Korea.

Ambassador De Vega conveyed the message of appreciation of Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) Chair Liza Dino-Seguerra for the close cooperation extended by the BIFF as an important platform for multilateral cooperation with ASEAN film commissions. Chair Dino-Seguerra likewise added that the FDCP looks forward to more Philippine and Asian film content at future editions of BIFF.

In response, Chairperson Lee remarked that Philippine films continue to be a welcome presence at the BIFF and that Filipino filmmakers such as the late National Artist Lino Brocka continue to inspire Korean filmmakers. He added that “BIFF hopes to see more Filipino film submissions in the future.”

Former Korean Film Council (KOFIC) Chair and now BIFF Asian Contents and Film Market Director Oh Seok Geun relayed that they would also like to see active Philippine participation in other BIFF film development programs particularly on content and story development.

Ambassador Dizon-De Vega thanked the BIFF officials for their continued interest in and support for film development in the Philippines and also cited the assistance provided by the BIFF’s Asian Cinema Fund (ACF) to Filipino filmmakers such as Director Carlo Francisco Manatad, a 2014 script development grantee, whose film “Whether the Weather is Fine” screened successfully at the Locarno and Toronto International Film Festivals in 2021.

Championing the development of international cooperation and partnerships for the Philippine film industry as well as helping to develop larger audiences for Filipino films is part of the Philippine Embassy in Seoul’s cultural and economic diplomacy thrusts. Ambassador Dizon-De Vega has served on the FDCP’s Film Incentives Committee. END

PHILIPPINES AND REPUBLIC OF KOREA SIGN MOU TO CREATE SMART CITY INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE PHILIPPINES

15 April 2022, Seoul – A Development Cooperation MOU between the Philippines’ Clark Development Corporation (CDC) and the Republic of Korea’s Land and Housing Corporation (LH) was signed on 15 April 2022 in Songdo, Korea. CDC President Manuel Gaerlan led the CDC Delegation at the signing ceremony  which was witnessed by Post’s Economic Officer and Third Secretary Reisha Olavario and Commercial Counselor Jose Ma. Dinsay. Ambassador Ma. Theresa B. Dizon-De Vega also met with CDC Officials separately to discuss future PH-ROK cooperation projects and investment promotion for the Clark Freeport Zone.  

Under the signed agreement with Clark Development Corporation (CDC), the Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH) will build a smart city in the Clark Freeport Zone. The proposed smart city will be linked to the Clark International Airport and is envisioned to become a logistics hub city with infrastructure for tourism, recreation, and aviation maintenance. It will also use artificial intelligence and big data to process real-time information collected through sensors and allow city operators to make quick choices to resolve problems or analyze data for future plans. During the MOU signing, both sides looked forward to the closer cooperation of LH and CDC. CDC President Manuel Gaerlan looked forward to technology sharing through the MOU, especially the Korea Communications Technology network which will be used by LH Urban Development for the K-Smart City Development.

The CDC heralded the Smart City MOU as a leap forward in the Philippines’ shift to the 4th Industrial Revolution. It is likewise a testament to the Philippines and the Republic of Korea’s shared ideas on prosperity in the Asia Pacific and our increased economic cooperation. END

Photo Credit: Korea Land & Housing Corporation (LH)