After a 20-year absence, the direct flight between Manila and Paris is back, with Air France relaunching the route on December 8. On this inaugural day, the maiden flight from Paris will arrive in Manila, while the first flight to Paris will depart. This new non-stop flight, operated three times a week, marks a significant step in enhancing connectivity and establishing Paris as the first direct gateway from the Philippines to Europe.
To celebrate this milestone, a series of high-level meetings and activities will take place as part of the Philippine Week in Paris , from December 9 to 13, 2024, aimed at exploring new avenues for cooperation across a range of sectors including maritime cooperation, trade, tourism, development, higher education and research.
A high-level delegation to reinforce bilateral cooperation
The maiden flight will carry one of the largest high-level Philippine delegation to France in recent years — including representatives from the Department of Tourism, Department of Transportation, National Economic and Development Authority, and Department of Science and Technology.
A multi-sector program to expand collaboration
Meetings with French Business Confederation and leading business organizations will focus on investment and economic partnerships, while a tourism segment aims at fostering new initiatives.
A delegation of the Philippine Coast Guard will explore opportunities for strengthening bilateral maritime cooperation aligning with preparations for the United Nations Oceans Conference (UNOC) in Nice, June 2025, and the “Blue Nations” initiative launched by the Embassy of France to the Philippines.
The week will also highlight higher education and research cooperation between the two countries through scientific exchanges, with a delegation of researchers and academic representatives from the Philippines. A conference will be held at Sciences Po, a leading social science institution that offers a Philippine studies program.
The French Development Agency (AFD) and the Government of the Philippines, represented by the Department of Finance and the National Economic Development Authority, will conduct their 10th AFD-GPH Bilateral Consultations.
The Philippine Week: a moment of celebration and connection
The Philippine Week coincides with the reopening of the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, after five years of restoration work, as well as the Christmas celebrations in Paris, creating a vibrant backdrop for the events.
