ANKARA, 10 March 2023 — Philippine Ambassador to Türkiye, H.E. Maria Elena P. Algabre, met with Mr. Serkan Kayalar, President of the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA), on 03 February 2023, to discuss possible opportunities for stronger cooperation between the TIKA and the Philippines.

Philippine Ambassador to Türkiye Maria Elena P. Algabre with Mr. Serkan Kayalar, President of the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) (Photo courtesy of TIKA)

Ambassador Algabre acknowledged TIKA as one of the largest global humanitarian donors and for being a reliable partner of the Philippines in bringing socio-economic development to the country, through TIKA’s health, educational, and agricultural programs, especially in the Mindanao region. Mr. Kayalar noted how the Philippines had been  one of Türkiye’s closest partners for development cooperation in Asia. 

Established in 1992, TIKA is the prime agency in Türkiye which oversees the country’s development assistance to developing countries, including the Philippines.  It operates projects in over 150 countries in such regions as the Middle East, Africa, the Balkans, South Asia and Latin America. TIKA has a Program Coordination Office in Taguig, Metro Manila, Philippines ##