Iloilo: Israeli Ambassador to the Philippines Dana Kursh is in Iloilo for talks with local political leaders on possible collaboration and to establish more business-to-business connections with the private sector. 'Iloilo has a lot of the richness of the culture and the history and the economic history. In my first year, it was very, very high on my priorities to learn about Iloilo throughout the province, but mainly the city,' she said in an interview on Thursday.

According to Philippines News Agency, the envoy said she was impressed when she visited the Museum of Philippine Economic History, where she learned about what used to be Iloilo's strength and its significance in the country's economic history. In her meeting with local leaders, Kursh said she wanted to understand their vision and connect them with the Israelis.

She added that going back home, she can help promote more tourism, especially since there is an effort to have direct flights between Israel and the Philippines before the end of the year. 'We want more Israelis to come to see, and Iloilo is one of the destinations. It's a wonderful opportunity to see the richness, also the footprints of the Spaniards - gorgeous building, gorgeous areas, which are fascinating to see,' she said.

On her first day, Kursh met with the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry for more business connections. Meanwhile, she shared that there is high demand for the Philippine-Israel Internship Program for the Youth, aimed at enticing the younger generation to engage in agriculture.

'Because of the importance of agriculture to the Philippines and because the best way that we can provide food security for the next generation is by exchanging best practices. So, Filipino expertise and Israeli expertise learning together, that's the secret to how we can have better food security together. Agriculture is a big component of the partnership between Israel and the Philippines,' she said.