Taj Mahal Hotel, India
August 4, 2025
“For seven and a half decades, we have had excellent relations with India. But tomorrow, this relationship is going to receive a major boost, a major upgrade, as the Prime Minister and I inaugurate a Strategic Partnership between the Philippines and India,” announced President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. during a meeting with the Filipino community in New Delhi, India.
Speaking before expatriates and overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), President Marcos Jr. stated that this milestone will intensify further cooperation in myriad areas that have not yet been explored with India, such as defense, trade and investment, health, tourism and others.
He shared the country’s recent economic achievements, including a 5.4% growth in the first quarter of 2025, aiming to reach 6% for the year. He also outlined ongoing infrastructure projects, such as expanding rail networks, upgrading airports — including the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) terminals — and launching assistance programs for small businesses and OFWs.
On bolstering economic ties with India, now the world’s fourth-largest economy, the President announced that the Philippine Government is ramping up its relations with India.
“In the coming days, our delegation will be engaging not only the government of Prime Minister Modi, but also India’s biggest enterprises. We would like to see them invest more and generate more jobs back home,” he said.
He also cited initiatives to boost travel and tourism, including the reintroduction of direct flights and the recent launch of visa-free entry for Indian tourists, complemented by the resumption of direct flights operated by Air India.
Regarding the protection of Filipino workers in India, a major development is the upcoming signing of a Social Security Agreement to ensure Filipino workers’ social protection abroad.
“Kaya po ngayong gabi, ako ay nagpapaabot ng pasasalamat sa inyong lahat. Ang inyo pong pagsuporta ay hindi lamang sa Administrasyon. Sa bandang huli, ang inyo pong suporta ay para sa ating bansa at sa ating mahal na Republika,” President Marcos Jr. concluded in his message.
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