RIYADH — On June 24, Ambassador Ezzedin H. Tago met with Dr. Ali Bin Nasser Al Ghafis, Governor of the Saudi Government's Technical and Vocational Training Corporation (TVTC) –– the counterpart of the Philippines' Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). During the meeting, Dr. Al Ghafis manifested Saudi Arabia's desire to work for the Philippines and expand cooperation in the area of human resources. “The Philippines, as a major labor sending country, is looking forward to enhancing cooperation in vocational training with Saudi Arabia," said Ambassador Tago. Ambassador Tago and Dr. Al Ghafis also discussed the preparations for the Fourth Philippine-Saudi Joint Commission Meeting, a regular bilateral consultative meeting, which Saudi Arabia will host in November of this year. Dr. Al-Ghafis holds wonderful memories of his two visits to the Philippines as head of the Saudi delegation to the third JCM in Manila in 2008 and on a visit on invite by TESDA. He encouraged the embassy to promote the Philippines as a tourism destination. — SG
