PRESIDENT Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has flown to India for his five-day state visit.
Marcos, along with First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, left the country at 10:44 a.m. Monday, April 4, 2025, aboard the presidential plane.
He will hold a state visit to the Republic of India from August 4 to 8, 2025, upon the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
In his departure speech, the President described India as a long-valued friend of the Philippines.
He said his visit will cap the year-long commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and the Philippines.
“I travel to India knowing that our commonalities will lead us to a deeper, broader, and more meaningful bilateral cooperation, both in the immediate future and up to our longer-term horizons, that will ultimately serve [to promote] peace, the stability, and prosperity for our two nations and the wider Indo-Pacific region,” said Marcos.
“There is much potential for cooperation with India that will mutually benefit our peoples. We intend to explore these by charting a plan of cooperation across a broad spectrum of shared interests: from defense, to trade, investment, health, pharmaceuticals, connectivity, agriculture, tourism, and many other areas,” he added.
Marcos earlier announced the grant of visa-free privileges for Indian travelers, which is expected to boost the country’s tourism-related industries and strengthen mutual understanding and benefits.
Several Cabinet secretaries are traveling with Marcos, who said they will help ensure that the vision of a close strategic relationship with India becomes a reality as soon as possible.
Marcos is also expected to lead a business delegation to New Delhi and Bengaluru to meet with leaders of India’s industries, particularly in the IT sector, to explore potential investment opportunities for both countries.
“I want this visit to bring concrete benefits to the people, such as more affordable medicine and greater connectivity and food security,” Marcos said.
“It is incumbent upon us, now more than ever, to maximize the opportunities in trade and investment with the world’s fourth-largest economy. I look forward to a productive visit and much closer Philippines-India relations,” he added. (TPM/SunStar Philippines)