Marcos Jr. visits India for five-day state trip

President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. will embark on a five-day state visit to India from August 4 to 8, aiming to strengthen bilateral ties and expand cooperation in defense, trade, and economic relations.

During his trip, President Marcos is expected to meet with Indian government officials including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Droupadi Murmu in New Delhi before traveling to Bangalore for further engagements.

At least six agreements between the Philippines and India are anticipated to be signed during this visit, covering areas such as law, culture, science, technology, and more, according to Assistant Secretary Evangeline Ong-Jimenez Ducrocq of the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Bilateral trade between the two countries reached USD3.5 billion in fiscal year 2023-2024, growing by 16% from the previous year, with both nations exporting a range of goods to each other.

President Marcos will also engage with Filipino expatriates and the business community during his visit, marking the first state visit by a Philippine president since 2007.