PH AMBASSADOR MEETS WITH NIOF PRESIDENT, DONATES VELARDE MAP AND BOOKS

18 October 2026 - Philippine Ambassador Charmaine Rowena C. Aviquivil met with Dr. Abeer Moneer, President of the Egypt’s National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries (NIOF), to explore possible collaborations and engagements.

During the meeting, Amb. Aviquivil shared that the Philippines, as an archipelagic country, has the same interest as Egypt in the blue economy as well as in studying and preserving the marine environment. She stated that the visit was to initiate and establish linkages between Philippine and Egyptian institutions and experts in this field.

For her part, Dr. Abeer provided a brief background on the Institute. She informed the Embassy that the NIOF is the leading institution for scientific research and technological development related to maritime and freshwater environments. She also highlighted the works and projects conducted by the various research facilities by the Red Sea and the Mediterranean.

Both sides agreed to work on bringing together Philippine and Egyptian institutions and experts to share knowledge and best practices, explore joint research and trainings and exchange visits and scientific publications.

As part of the Embassy’s ManaMo 2026 initiative, Amb. Aviquivil presented the NIOF with a copy of the Murillo Velarde Map, which is regarded as the first scientific map and cartographic document of the Philippine archipelago. She also shared with the NIOF two (2) publications by the Department of Foreign Affairs’ Foreign Service Institute (FSI) discussing blue economy and the proceedings of FSI’s Law of the Sea Academy. These tokens were presented to the NIOF as symbols of Philippine maritime heritage and friendship, and as an invitation to deepen Philippine-Egyptian cooperation in the field of marine science. END.