Lok Sabha MP Gaurav Gogoi has been nominated as the President of the India–Philippines Parliamentary Friendship Group for the 18th Lok Sabha, marking a key parliamentary-level engagement initiative between the two democracies.
The nomination follows the constitution of Parliamentary Friendship Groups with 64 countries by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, with several senior Opposition leaders appointed to head more than a dozen of these groups.
Each group comprises 11 members, including representatives from both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.
An official communication issued by the Conference and Protocol Branch of the Lok Sabha Secretariat confirmed the formation of the India–Philippines Parliamentary Friendship Group for the current Lok Sabha term, aimed at strengthening legislative cooperation and parliamentary dialogue between the two countries.
The letter formally conveyed Gogoi’s nomination as President of the group.
Parliamentary Friendship Groups function as informal platforms within Parliament to promote bilateral relations, encourage dialogue among legislators and deepen cooperation on issues of mutual interest, complementing formal diplomatic engagements.
They also play a role in fostering people-to-people and institutional linkages.
ALSO READ: Meghalaya: VPP MLA seeks scientific study of water contamination near Marten landfill
India and the Philippines have been expanding cooperation across sectors such as defence, maritime security, trade, education and cultural exchanges, with parliamentary engagement increasingly viewed as a vital pillar of the broader bilateral relationship.
The formation of the group also aligns with India’s Act East Policy, which emphasises deeper engagement with Southeast Asia.
As President of the Friendship Group, Gogoi is expected to lead parliamentary interactions, facilitate exchanges with Filipino lawmakers and contribute to strengthening legislative cooperation during the tenure of the 18th Lok Sabha.
Further details on the group’s composition and activities are expected to be announced by the Lok Sabha Secretariat in due course.
