Your Excellency, the newly appointed Ambassador of the Republic of the Philippines to South Africa, Ambassador Myla Grace Ragenia Macahilig,
Esteemed members of the Diplomatic Corps,
Honoured guests,
Members of the Filipino community in South Africa,
Ladies and Gentlemen.
Good evening.
It is a real pleasure and privilege to join you tonight as we celebrate the National Day of the Republic of the Philippines.
On behalf of the Government and people of South Africa, I would like to extend our warmest greetings to you all and congratulate the Government and people of the Philippines on this important occasion.
Today is not only a celebration of Philippine independence, but also of the resilience, pride and democratic spirit of the Filipino people – values that continue to inspire admiration around the world.
South Africa and the Philippines may be separated by geography, but over the years our countries have built a warm and steadily growing friendship based on mutual respect and shared values. Since the establishment of formal diplomatic relations in 1993, our partnership has continued to deepen across many areas of cooperation.
Both our countries understand the importance of perseverance and unity. We are democracies committed to improving the lives of our people, strengthening inclusive development and ensuring that progress reaches all sectors of society.
These common aspirations have created a strong foundation for our bilateral relationship, and I believe there is still enormous potential ahead of us.
Allow me also to extend a very special welcome to Your Excellency, the newly appointed Ambassador of the Republic of the Philippines to South Africa.
Madam Ambassador, we are delighted to welcome you to Pretoria. You begin your mission at an exciting time in relations between our two countries, as cooperation continues to expand in areas such as trade, infrastructure, governance and people-to-people engagement.
We look forward to working closely with you and your team in strengthening the ties between South Africa and the Philippines even further.
Please be assured of the full support and friendship of the South African Government during your tenure here.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Our relationship is increasingly being shaped not only by diplomacy, but also by growing economic cooperation.
Trade between South Africa and the Philippines has remained stable and resilient, despite the uncertainty facing the global economy. Recent trade figures indicate that bilateral trade continues to hold steady at around R3.7 billion, reflecting a relationship that continues to mature and diversify.
South Africa exports a range of products to the Philippines, including mineral products, machinery, agricultural goods, processed foods, wood pulp and paper products.
In return, we import electronics, manufactured goods and various industrial and technology products from the Philippines.
We are especially encouraged by the growing presence of South African agricultural products in the Philippine market, including citrus fruits, table grapes, wines and fruit juices.
These developments show that there are meaningful opportunities for growth that can benefit both our economies and our people.
One of the most significant recent developments in our economic partnership has been the involvement of a Filipino company in South Africa’s strategic infrastructure sector.
The agreement concluded between International Container Terminal Services Incorporated and Transnet for the upgrade and management of Durban Container Terminal Pier 2 is a landmark moment in our cooperation.
This major investment, valued at approximately R10.45 billion, represents an important step towards improving the efficiency and competitiveness of South Africa’s ports and logistics systems.
We see this project not simply as a commercial agreement, but as a powerful example of how South Africa and the Philippines can work together to support infrastructure development, trade facilitation and long-term economic growth.
Beyond bilateral cooperation, our countries also continue to work closely together in multilateral forums, including the United Nations, the Non-Aligned Movement and the Group of 77.
South Africa values the Philippines’ commitment to multilateralism and to collective approaches in addressing global challenges such as climate change, inequality and economic instability.
In an increasingly uncertain world, partnerships grounded in cooperation and mutual respect are more important than ever.
Of course, the true strength of any bilateral relationship lies not only in agreements between governments, but in the connections between people.
The Filipino community in South Africa has made valuable contributions across many sectors of our society, including healthcare, education, maritime services and professional industries.
Your presence enriches the diversity of our country and strengthens the bonds between our nations.
Likewise, many South Africans who have visited or worked with the Philippines often speak warmly of the hospitality, resilience and generosity of the Filipino people.
These human connections matter deeply, and they remind us that diplomacy is ultimately about building understanding between people and cultures.
There remains significant untapped potential between South Africa and the Philippines.
I believe our countries have much to learn from one another as we continue pursuing inclusive growth and sustainable development for our people.
In closing, may the friendship between South Africa and the Philippines continue to grow from strength to strength.
May our cooperation deepen in the years ahead, and may our nations continue working together in the spirit of peace, partnership and shared prosperity.
Mabuhay ang Pilipinas.
Long live the Philippines.
I thank you.