Logo-making contest launched to showcase PHL-Morocco links

• Published date: 09 February 2023
• Publication title: Business Mirror

THE Philippine embassy in the Kingdom of Morocco unveiled a logo-making contest to increase the locals' awareness about the two countries' bilateral relations, which is set to reach its golden anniversary in 2025.

In an interview, Ambassador Leslie Baja said the diplomatic relations started on April 10, 1975. However, the Philippine embassy in Rabat was shut down 27 years ago due to budgetary concerns.

'The embassy reopened only in 2020…So, in this sense, [for] the last two years, we had a lot of catching up to do,' Baja said.

Nonetheless, the Philippines signed a number of agreements with the North African country, the first of which happened in 2004.

'It is the Joint Commission on Bilateral Cooperation. We hope to have that…hopefully running this year,' the Filipino envoy shared. 'This is a high-level commission chaired by the foreign ministers of the [two countries].'

The country, he added, was able to sign more pacts with Morocco during former secretary of foreign affairs Teodoro Locsin Jr.'s visit last year.

They include an air-service agreement; those on the hosting of political consultations; memorandum of understanding between the Foreign Service Institute and the Moroccan...