Slovakia is stepping up its diplomatic and economic engagement with the Philippines and Southeast Asia with the opening of its resident embassy in Manila, a major highlight of Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár’s official visit.
The embassy opening coincides with Blanár’s visit, the first by a Slovak foreign minister to the Philippines since 2015, and underscores Bratislava’s commitment to strengthening ties with Manila and expanding its presence in the ASEAN region.
During bilateral talks with Foreign Secretary Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro, the two officials reaffirmed the friendship between the Filipino and Slovak peoples, reviewed the steady momentum of bilateral relations, and explored opportunities to expand cooperation, particularly in trade and investment.
“Economically, our countries have much to offer each other. Slovakia’s industrial and automotive expertise complements the Philippines’ strengths in electronics and semiconductors. As a member of ASEAN, the Philippines offers Slovak businesses opportunities across Southeast Asia, while Slovakia provides Philippine enterprises a valuable partner in Central Europe and the European Union,” Secretary Lazaro said.
Accompanying Blanár is a business delegation keen to explore opportunities in the Philippines, particularly in information technology, electronics, machinery, water treatment, and green energy. The Slovak foreign minister is also holding the Philippines-Slovakia Business Forum.
Another key milestone of the visit is Slovakia’s planned accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC), which provides a framework for its enhanced engagement with ASEAN. Blanár is scheduled to sign the Declaration on the Deposit of Slovakia’s Instrument of Accession to the treaty.
The two sides also exchanged views on regional and international developments, with Lazaro briefing her Slovak counterpart on developments in the region.
The opening of the resident embassy, alongside Slovakia’s move to formalize its engagement with ASEAN, signals a broader effort to build stronger diplomatic, economic, and regional partnerships.