Ambassador Jaideep Mazumdar's interview to Business Mirror (published on 19 January,2018)

Indian envoy to capitalize

on strengths in synergies

by Recto Mercene

AMBASSADOR of India to the Philippines Jaideep Mazumdar will have his hands full during the next three years or so he is posted in the country.

This, as he is keen to turn into fruition the various memoranda of agreements signed during the visit of Indian Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi when the Philippines hosted the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit in November 2017.

Modi was a prime mover at the Asean Summit where he conducted high-level discussions with President Rodrigo Duterte, while his cabinet members had theirs with Filipino equivalents in the run-up to the Summit.

“They formed the India-Philippines joint working group which has identified new growth partnerships in trade and investments, agriculture, health, tourism, renewable energy, science and technology as well as defense,” Mazumdar said during an exclusive with the BusinessMirror.

He seems undaunted by the tasks ahead, saying he is not a stranger to this neck of the woods, since he had “a very smooth transition in Manila, aided no less by the Filipino’s gracious, hospitable, warm and friendly nature.”

“I’ve been able to adjust quickly,” he confidently stated, and added that since his assignment in Manila six months ago, he coordinated the visit of Prime Minsiter Modi.

“It also helped that [2017 was] a positive year in our bilateral relations; we have had several visitors from our country. Our ministers on defense, trade and foreign affairs came over and all of them had very good interactions with their counterparts.”

Ambassador Mazumdar said Modi’s arrival during the East Asean Summit was a historic one, being the first arrival of an Indian Prime Minister to Manila in 36 years. “The Prime Minister took advantage [of it] by having bilateral meetings with President Duterte,” he recalled, “which was followed by the signing of five agreements.”

The two leaders also decided to set up a Chair of Indian Studies at the University of the Philippines. “In all,” he affirmed, “it was all fulfilling and satisfying visit.”

The envoy envisions the entry of the New Year with a portent of good things to come, especially with the confirmed and anticipated visit of the President of the Philippines to India.

He revealed that while in India, the Philippine Chief Executive and his cabinet members are expected to engage in substantive bilateral interactions, including the signing of some agreements, although the visit is ostensibly to attend the ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit celebrating 25 years of the relationship.

Touching on the defense cooperation that was inked during the Asean Summit, the Indian diplomat said there are two elements involved in this issue.

One is to cooperate in defence industry, acquisitions and the other, the logistics involved for both countries to assist each other during natural disasters, including rescue and relief assistance.

He noted, “There’s also an ongoing discussion on how to our two navies could cooperate in the acquisition of defense ships and patrol boats, [as well as] other areas where we can cooperate with the Philippines”, as well as coast guard cooperation. Much of the body armour used by Philippine security forces in Marawi is made by Indian companies.

Trade, IT, etc.

ASKED about trade relations between the two countries, the Ambassador hinted with a tinge of disappointment that “it is far below of our potentials,” noting that despite decades of having been diplomatically linked, our total trade amounts to only $2 billion, “which we can increase several fold.”

He noted there is every reason trade between New Delhi and Manila could be vastly improved, considering that India’s commerce with Asean amounts to $70 billion.

“The Philippines is the third largest economy in Asean. Certainly, the bilateral trade with India should be much more than [the current level].” He assured, however, that the Embassy is looking for ways to increase the numbers.

“Trade alone does not portray the entire picture of our whole bilateral relations,” Mazumdar averred, saying the extent of cooperation between the two countries is “extensive.” For instance, most of the top Indian information technology (IT) companies have invested in the Philippines.

“They contribute significantly to employment, income generation and service experts” he pointed out.

“We look at it as complementary because the Philippines has certain skills which are not in India; therefore, we’re not in competition, but are engaged in obtaining best synergies between us.”

He also mentioned of Indian companies that are working in certain projects such as the Cebu Mactan International Airport and the recently awarded Clark International Airport expansion project.

In addition, he said Filipino companies are about to invest significantly in the liquid natural gas sector in India.

He identified such as AG&P, which is investing $200 million for a terminal in Southern India, "and they have plans for further expansion.”

Pharma presence

THE amiable envoy said Indian pharmaceutical industries have also been operating in the country producing affordable drugs. “A good portion of the medicines distributed in the Philippines by Filipino companies are made in India,” he said, adding that 50 percent of India’s pharma production is exported.

“Most of our pharma companies have approvals in the United States as well as Europe and they follow international standards.”

Seeing the clout of their pharma firms, Mazumdar said there is a niche area for them to produce patented drugs in the country.

He opined, “There is another market for generics that needs to be addressed so that you would be able to address the medicinal requirements of the poorest of the poor, who find it very difficult to access health care.”

In this vein, he said there are huge potentials for reducing the cost of medicine in the Philippines. “We’re working with [your] government on that.”

The Ambassador said he is aware that former senator Manuel A. Roxas III introduced before a bill calling for the entry of Indian medicines to the country to offset the high cost of foreign pharmaceutical products.

“In fact when our PM met with your President during Asean, this was one of the agenda,” he explained, adding that Prime Minister Modi has assured Duterte of full assistance—“whatever the Philippines needs to bring down the cost of medicine.”

“And we look forward to work with your government in devising certain schemes by which Indian companies would invest in Philippines and get some tax benefits to encourage them to come and invest here.”

He requested only that the country should see to it that the business registration process is streamlined.

“In fact, we have a joint working group in the pharmaceutical and health sector that was supposed to meet later this month but was postponed; it will meet either in February or March this year.”

Mazumdar said the group would look at all the aspects of cooperation in the health sector between India and the Philippines.

Asked the secret behind India’s affordable, high quality medicines, he claimed his country has a thriving pharmaceutical sector that is “a very old one.”

“And we have very high-quality manpower as well and education that caters to technology in the pharma industry, making it possible to develop these drugs and the processes to manufacture them.”

In automotive and motoring, the Philippines sources machineries and some vehicles from India, with Tata being one of the largest car manufacturers in the world. Mahindra has supplied high quality vehicles to the Philippines army and police.

He disclosed the subcontinental country also largely exports chemicals, petrochemical products and even buffalo meat.

Cultural connections

THE discussion turned to culture and naturally gravitated toward yoga, the practice of meditation by which India has been known throughout the world.

Because of this, the United Nations has declared International Yoga Day every June 21 which is celebrated all over the world, including the Philippines.

Mazumdar also mentioned that India has two famous festivals: One in spring, Holi, and the other, the Festival of Lights or Diwali.

“In all these, the local Indian community, including our Filipino friends, actively participate not only in Manila but also in places like Bacolod, where there’s a large Indian community.”

“This year we also have a youth summit and the Ramayana Festival in India with Philippines participation,” he recalled, as there was a version of the latter in Mindanao.

“This month, we are having a Ramayana Festival for Asean and India. There will be participants form the Philippines who will perform in several cities in India.”

Cooperation, trainings, aid

IN the areas of security, military and counterterrorism, Mazumdar said India is conducting trainings with the Philippine navy, army and air force.

“Our country’s two naval frigates, which are the most advanced, indigenously-developed stealth vessels, arrived for a port call at the Manila Harbor in October. Our Coast Guard ships also docked there in the [following] months.”

He said the personnel of these ships have interacted with their local counterparts, including exchanges of experience, “which are very useful.” He said both countries are also engaged in the exchange of intelligence and in taking steps against terrorism.

Likewise, Mazumdar noted India was one of the first countries who donated P25 million for the displaced families and survivors of the Marawi City conflict. The amount, at that time, was the largest that any country had given until subsequently, others offered their help.

“You can see from trade investments, defense, security, counterterrorism and people-to-people links that there’s a huge canvass of cooperation out there.”

The Ambassador affirmed seeing the relationship between the two countries as a very complimentary thing, “and the present administration has identified several priority projects which we are able to assist with.”

For instance, he explained that India has extended its hand in affordable health care, the issuance of a universal identification (ID) card system, and even banking-for-all which allows for accessibility to financial institutions by everyone, and in direct transfer of benefits to the poor beneficiaries “which can be facilitated through the universal ID card as well as mobile phone and cashless transaction.”

He said currently, there are 20 delegates from the Philippines going to India “to learn about our experience,” adding they are members of Congress and senior officials from finance and banking “and other areas where we can cooperate.”

Strength in numbers

THE Ambassador has quite an extensive experience in foreign affairs, having worked in China, Nepal, Bangladesh, Hong Kong, Egypt and the UN.

“I was head of the [Foreign Affairs] division, looking after [the Southeast Asian] region before I came here,” he shared.

“But apart from our shared histories, the Philippines and India are remarkably similar countries,” the envoy declared, saying “both have ‘boisterous’ democracies, open and pluralistic societies, and young populations.”

He observed: “Our countries both have very large populations, the Philippines being the 12th largest in the world.”

Mazumdar said the two are strong in services and deployment of overseas workers.

He mentioned that the Philippines receives US$26 billion in remittances courtesy the10 million compatriots abroad, while India’s 30 million diaspora have sent home $90 billion last year.

Likewise, he cited a statistic of an estimated 120,000-strong Indian nationals living the Philippines, concentrated mostly in Manila, and the rest finding residence across the archipelago.

The only air link by Manila to New Delhi was cut off a few years ago when Philippine Airlines (PAL) ceased flying to the Indian capital, apparently due to a weak market. However, the Ambassador revealed some in the aviation sector are working for a resumption of air service, either by PAL or Cebu Pacific.

PAL is acquiring long-range aircraft such as the B777 and A350 that would be able to cover the 4,754-kilometer distance between the two cities in 8 hours and 10 minutes.

He is optimistic that by the middle of the year, the aforementioned airline companies will offer direct services with long-range aircraft. “These flights, if they become reality, would be a tremendous boost to tourism as well.”

“There are potentially 100,000 tourists from my country; in fact, there were 80,000 who visited the Philippines till December 2017. India is the fastest growing market for the Philippines,” the Indian diplomat explained.

“The Philippines can take advantage of the ease of conversations with Indian citizens,” noting they, like Filipinos are at ease with the English language and therefore posed no problems among tourists who visit the Philippines’s world-class beaches.

Ambassador Mazumdar shared he has visited a few of these spots in Davao, Cebu, Boracay and Baguio, both for business and leisure, and is looking forward to experience the country’s renowned tourist spots during his tenure.

CAPTION:

AMBASSADOR of India to the Philippines Jaideep Mazumdar