Envoy says Marcos trip to Germany will be 'business-focused' --- By ANNA FELICIA BAJO, GMA Integrated News

The Philippine Ambassador to Germany has said that President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr.'s working visit to Berlin will be business-focused. ''This is a working visit that’s business-focused, so a big part of the President’s program is business-oriented. He will address the German business community and inform them of all the reforms that the administration has undertaken to attract foreign investments into the country,'' Irene Susan Natividad said in an interview. ''This is the first visit of the Philippine President after 10 years since the last visit. So the Filipinos working and living here in Germany of course look forward to it,'' she added. Marcos and the entire Philippine delegation will depart for Germany Monday afternoon for a working visit. After that, he will have a state visit to Prague, Czech Republic. According to Department of Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Maria Elena Algabre, the Philippines and Germany are set to sign a joint declaration of intent during Marcos' visit to enhance its maritime sector cooperation. Further, the DFA official said that there would be a signing of the cooperation program between the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and the German Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB). Meanwhile, Natividad also said that Germany has been facing a labor shortage and this matter will surely be tackled between the two governments. ''So I am sure the Chancellor and the President will also discuss how we can help each other, the Philippines, how to help Germany address that labor shortage and for Germany to assure us that the workers we will be sending here will be treated fairly, provided all the benefits and rights they should enjoy just like any other German national or other nationalities working in Germany,'' she said. Natividad also said that climate and renewable energy would be part of the meetings since these two topics are important for the two nations. So far, there are 35,000 Filipinos in Germany who are working in the healthcare, IT, hotel and hospitality industries. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News

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