Manila: The Philippines and Morocco marked the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic relations on April 10, with Manila hoping for a more robust and strategic partnership with Rabat in the coming years. In an interview, Philippine Ambassador Leslie Baja called 2025 a milestone year as the two states celebrate five decades of friendship where cooperation in people-to-people, economic, and political fields are much closer and stronger.
According to Philippines News Agency, since reopening the Philippine Embassy in Rabat in 2020, the two countries have identified key areas for cooperation, including trade, labor, education, and cultural exchanges. ‘One can only hope that we can have a stronger and more strategic partnership in the next 50 years, I think we have done the spade work in the last five and we can use the last 50 years as foundation to build an even greater partnership between our two countries in the next 50 years,’ Baja said.
On the economic space, Baja expressed optimism for greater trade and investment, particularly noting Morocco’s free trade deals with the United States and the European Union. ‘There is really a very good potential here. Morocco is one of those politically and economically stable countries in the North African region, and its economy is very modern. It’s very close to Europe, and it can be accessed very easily from any part of the world,’ he said. The trade relationship between the two nations has seen significant growth, with trade volumes tripling from USD17 million in 2017 to USD57 million in 2023.
Regarding labor cooperation, a draft memorandum of understanding on employment and training awaits Morocco’s approval. While not aimed at immediate worker deployment, it might open opportunities for Filipino professionals, notably in healthcare. The Philippine Embassy has noted interest from the Moroccan private sector, particularly in the healthcare field, although the Moroccan government has yet to specify its sectoral focus.
Currently, there are about 4,300 Filipinos in Morocco, primarily employed as household service workers, while a smaller number works as professionals. Baja also mentioned that several bilateral agreements are being prepared for signing, including those related to energy, the environment, and sustainable development.
To commemorate the anniversary, both countries launched special stamps featuring the Marrakesh-Menara and Mactan-Cebu international airports, symbolizing the growth of their bilateral ties since 1975.
