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After a 13 year blackout, a new Danish Embassy officially opened in Manila Thursday the 22nd January. Attending the opening were a trade delegation consisting of 18 Danish companies, eager to explore Southeast Asia’s fastest growing economy.
On the 11th floor of the 11th Corporate center on the 11th Avenue in Manila’s fast growing largely commercial neighborhood Fort Bonifacio Global City, Thursday the 22nd January 2015 the ribbon to the new Danish Embassy were cut by the Philippines Secretary of Foreign Affairs Albert F. Del Rosario and Danish Trade and Development Minister Mogens Jensen.
“I’ve been to a couple of Embassy openings, in my time as a Minister, and this is by far the biggest crowd I have seen, it is very promising for our presence here. It looks like Philippine and a lot of Danish companies have been missing a Danish Embassy,” Trade and Development Minister Mogens Jensen started his opening speech.
The large interest from Danish companies and investors, were matched by the new Ambassador Jan Top Christensen’s optimism, one of his personal goals is to double the Danish exports to the
Philippines in his years of service. The opening, were mainly attended by Danish and Filipino companies, politicians, bureaucrats and NGO’s.
Ready for business
Like the crowd, the speeches from new ambassador Jan Top Christensen, Danish Minister Mogens Jensen and Albert F. Del Rosario were focused on business. Mogens Jensens speech highlighted the recent years’ impressive growth rates, the initiatives that have been taken to fight corruption, drastic improvement of the Philippines ranking on Transparency International’s corruption index and the vast range of reforms introduced by President Benigno Aquino’s government since 2010 were applauded.
“20 years ago, Denmark supported the Philippines with development assistance, today our economic ties have matured and are mainly based on commercial relations. However, should a major catastrophe strike again, you will find a friend in Denmark,” Mogens Jensen said and added that what was once the economic and political ugly duckling of Southeast Asia is on its way to become a beautiful swan.
The wish expressed on behalf of Denmark to engage in a more extensive business cooperation was followed up with a seminar on January the 23rd. Attending was the Danish Trade delegation consisting of companies and interest organizations and their Philippine counterparts. The seminar focused on 3 different sectors, sustainability, healthcare and agriculture.