As India continues to surge ahead with its massive population and rapid economic growth, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. embarks on a historic five-day state visit to New Delhi and Bengaluru to deepen the Philippines’ strategic partnership with the world’s most populous and fourth-largest economy.
The visit, which marks the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and India, is expected to unlock new opportunities in defense, trade, technology, and cultural cooperation. It builds on centuries-old links between two former colonies turned vibrant democracies in Asia, whose shared values and aspirations for peace and prosperity now take center stage.
“I travel to India knowing that our commonalities will lead us to a deeper, broader, and more meaningful bilateral cooperation, both in the immediate future and up to our longer-term horizons, that will ultimately serve the peace, the stability, and prosperity for our two nations and the wider Indo-Pacific region,” President Marcos said in his departure speech at Villamor Air Base on Monday.
The President pointed out that Philippine culture has long been enriched by Indian influence—most notably in language and literature. “For instance, the term ‘Maharlika,’ which in ancient Tagalog society was referred to a class of freemen who were obligated to serve the Datu in battle, is actually derived from Sanskrit, one of the ancient languages of the Indian subcontinent,” he said.
Signing of six agreements
The visit is poised to deliver a suite of bilateral agreements spanning maritime security, trade and investment, health, science and technology, culture, and agriculture. According to Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Assistant Secretary Evangeline Ong Jimenez-Ducrocq, “The areas of cooperation actually are very wide-ranging… We have, I think, upwards of six agreements to be concluded. And though the working day is not yet over, we expect more to come on line.”
India, known as the Silicon Valley of Asia, is particularly attractive to the Philippines as a technological and digital powerhouse. President Marcos will lead a business delegation to Bengaluru to meet with top Indian IT leaders and explore investment opportunities in tech, pharmaceuticals, and telecommunications.
“Bangalore is India’s Silicon Valley, and as you know, in ICT, in technology, they are quite strong. So, we’re hoping to establish better connections, especially for the private sector,” Jimenez-Ducrocq said.
Several Indian multinational firms already operate in the Philippines in sectors such as IT-BPM and pharmaceuticals. The President hopes the visit will result in expanded trade ties, greater connectivity, and access to more affordable medicine. “I want this visit to bring concrete benefits to the people, such as more affordable medicine and greater connectivity and food security,” he said.
Meeting with PM Modi
In New Delhi, President Marcos is set to hold high-level meetings with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other key officials to chart a broader plan of cooperation “across a broad spectrum of shared interests,” including defense, agriculture, health, tourism, and maritime security.
The DFA also expressed hope that the visit would pave the way for a bilateral trade agreement with India, even as ASEAN and India have already concluded negotiations on a broader Trade in Goods Agreement.
India’s recent inclusion in the Philippines’ visa-free regime is expected to boost people-to-people exchanges, while reinforcing mutual understanding between two countries that uphold democratic principles and the rule of law.
“With the Philippines being the oldest constitutional democracy in Asia, and (India being) our continent’s largest democracy, our two countries share several core interests, such as our democratic ideals, our respect for basic freedoms, and the preservation of a rules-based order in the international arena,” said President Marcos.
Maritime cooperation, too, remains a pillar of the partnership. “Our shared interest in protecting the rights and welfare of our international seafarers, our steadfastness in upholding international maritime law, including the UNCLOS, and our unwavering commitment to regional peace and cooperation, serve as a credible foundation of our active and growing maritime cooperation,” the President said.
The state visit, held from August 4 to 8, is upon the invitation of Prime Minister Modi and is seen by both governments as a milestone in building a future-ready partnership in the Indo-Pacific era.
