Slovenia opens first SE Asia embassy in Manila, signs MoC with Philippines

On Tuesday, March 11, Slovenian Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon formally opened her country's first embassy in Southeast Asia in Manila.

During a meeting at Malacañan Palace on Wednesday, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Minister Fajon discussed the West Philippine Sea issue and areas of cooperation between the Philippines and Slovenia.

Minister Fajon and Department of Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Cacdac signed a Memorandum of Cooperation focusing on labor and employment to ensure decent work conditions during the embassy's opening ceremony at RCBC Plaza in Makati City.

Fajon highlighted the memorandum as an initiative to promote safe and fair employment, reflecting both countries' commitment to regular migration, and praised Filipinos for their hard work and professionalism.

The minister also noted that many Filipinos are already contributing to Slovenia's cultural diversity and expressed hopes for welcoming more workers from the Philippines.

Marcos thanked Slovenia for establishing its embassy in the Philippines, which commenced initial operations on May 10, 2024, and will bolster bilateral cooperation in areas such as trade, investment, nuclear cooperation, labor, and sports.