DOF, Czech Republic ink agreement

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Finance (DOF) and the Finance Ministry of the Czech Republic inked a memorandum of cooperation in an effort to improve relations between the two countries.

The MOC, signed by Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima and Czech Finance Minister Miroslav Kalousek, will lay the foundation for mutual cooperation between ministries with special attention on public finances.

The assistance will be in the form of study visits, seminars and workshops, as well as other activities.

“The Czech Republic has derived great economic wisdom from its history, and we are honoured to have their Ministry of Finance agree to this memorandum to share their knowledge and experience with us,” Purisima said.

“I thank Minister Kalousek and Czech Ambassador to the Philippines Josef Rychtar for this initiative, which will make the Czech Republic a greater partner in the Philippines’ own development vision,” Purisima added.

The signing of the MOC was facilitated by the Philippine Embassy in the Czech Republic, led by Ambassador Evelyn Austria-Garcia, and the Czech Republic’s Embassy in Manila, headed by Ambassador Rychtar.

The signing took place during Purisima’s trip to the Czech Republic, where he gave a presentation to the European Banking and Finance Forum on the economic potential of the Philippines and ASEAN.

The Philippines and the Czech Republic are celebrating the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries this year.