OFFICIAL VISIT OF THE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER AND MINISTER OF RURAL AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT TO THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 14 – 16 OCTOBER 2024

OFFICIAL VISIT OF THE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER AND MINISTER OF RURAL AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT TO THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 14 - 16 OCTOBER 2024

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Rural and Regional Development Dato' Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, will undertake an official visit to the Republic of the Philippines from 14 to 16 October 2024. The Deputy Prime Minister will be accompanied by senior government officials from the Deputy Prime Minister's Office, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA), the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education, the Civil Defence Force, and representatives from public universities in Malaysia.

During the visit, the Deputy Prime Minister is scheduled to pay courtesy calls on President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte.

The Deputy Prime Minister is also scheduled to have an engagement with relevant stakeholders in the education sector to discuss collaboration in education especially in the field of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and skills development.

As the Minister responsible for disaster management, the Deputy Prime Minister will lead the Malaysian delegation to attend the 10th Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (APMCDRR). The Deputy Prime Minister will be delivering a National Statement regarding initiative, implementation, and achievements as well as challenges in implementing the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR) 2015-2030. The Deputy Prime Minister will also be attending the Ministerial Reception hosted by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

The official visit is a manifestation of the close bilateral relations between Malaysia and the Philippines as both countries celebrate the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Malaysia and the Philippines.

In 2023, the Philippines was Malaysia's 17th largest trading partner in the world and the 5th largest trading partner among ASEAN, with a total value recorded at RM36.12 billion (USD7.92 billion). From January to July 2024, total trade increased by 5.9% valued at RM22.41 billion (USD4.75 billion, in comparison to RM20.08 billion (USD4.48 billion) in the corresponding period in 2023.

PUTRAJAYA

13 October 2024