Manila: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has underscored the enhancement of diplomatic ties, the establishment of investment commitments, and the expansion of cooperation in vital sectors as significant outcomes of his recent visit to India for the 18th BRICS Summit. According to Philippines News Agency, Marcos returned to the Philippines early Monday after representing the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) at the two-day BRICS Summit in New Delhi. During his visit, he engaged in several meetings with Indian business and government stakeholders. In a media briefing prior to his departure from India on Sunday, Marcos emphasized the importance of "personal conversations" with fellow leaders in fostering mutual understanding and strengthening diplomatic ties. Marcos highlighted the potential Indian investments in the Philippines as a key result of his discussions with business leaders. Some Indian companies with operations in the Philippines committed to expansion, while others expressed plans to enter the market. "So, a great deal was done," Marcos remarked. During his time in India, Marcos engaged with Indian stakeholders on various sectors, including disaster resilience, railway technology, space research, digital payments, and infrastructure development. He held discussions with executives from GMR Group and representatives of Cavitex Holdings, Inc. to advance the Sangley Point International Airport project in Cavite. Additionally, he met with executives from iSON Group to discuss expanding its operations in the Philippines, resulting in a total investment commitment of USD75 million for modern farming, renewable energy, healthcare, and teleconsultation services, which is expected to generate approximately 2,000 jobs. Furthermore, an additional USD10 million was pledged for the expansion of business process outsourcing and the integration of global delivery centers. Marcos also advanced cooperation with NPCI International Limited on digital payments, exploring a partnership with LandBank of the Philippines to implement India's Unified Payments Interface-based payment system in the Philippines. This initiative aims to enhance the efficiency of government payments, QR payment interoperability, and cross-border transactions for Filipinos and businesses. The President also met with officials and members of the Coalition for Disaster Resilience, with plans for the Philippines to join the group. Attending the BRICS Summit as ASEAN chair and as part of the bloc's Outreach Countries, Marcos emphasized the opportunity for the Philippines to engage major economies beyond its traditional diplomatic circles. The summit allowed him to connect with leaders from Africa and Latin America, which he noted would not typically happen in other international gatherings. "Policy and ideology are front and center, but personal relationship plays a big part in diplomacy," Marcos stated, highlighting that personal ties provide leaders with greater confidence to address concerns directly when they arise.