PHL, India stress cooperation in BPO-IT industry, fight vs terrorism

The Philippines and India on Friday vowed to strengthen cooperation in fighting terrorism and in complementing their strengths in the global business process outsourcing and information technology industry.

President Rodrigo Duterte disclosed the development following his expanded bilateral meeting with India’s President Ram Nath Kovind in Malacañang.

“As countries strategically located in the Pacific and Indian Oceans, we affirmed our shared interest to protect our maritime commons and advance the rule of law in our maritime domains,” Duterte said during the joint press conference.

“We agreed also to continue working together to fight terrorism and violent extremism and other transboundary threats.”

Kovind said the Philippines and India were committed “to work closely to defeat and eliminate terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.”

Duterte also welcomed India’s role in the country’s defense capability upgrade program and thanked the South Asian nation for helping the Philippines rebuild war-torn Marawi City “without precondition, delay or hesitation.”

IT, BPO industries

According to Duterte, the Philippines and India shared the distinction of being leaders in the global IT and BPO industries.

“This is a shared distinction that encourages us to cooperate more so that we can complement each other’s strengths,” he said.

Kovind added the two countries agreed to “explore both our common future through cooperation in space as well as the past through research of the history of our [civilization roots] and commonalities in our culture and tradition.”

The two sides also discussed issues related to the use of technology to ensure good governance and tackle corruption and provide quality and affordable healthcare for their citizens.

“In all these areas, we are cooperating one way or the other and the potential for this is enormous,” Kovind said.

Kovind’s state visit coincided with the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and India.

“These past seven decades are more than just the passage of time. They signify the stability of true friendship availing itself and between two major Asian democracies. They represent the steady maturing of ties that has helped transform our nations into the fast-growing economies of what they are today,” Duterte said.

“India is a natural partner of the Philippines. Enhancing our relations is therefore timely as it is necessary.” — DVM, GMA News