By Perla Lena (PNA)
ILOILO CITY — Russian Ambassador to the Philippines Igor Anatolyevich Khovaev is proposing to hold a Russian Film Festival in this city next month.
Mayor Jose Espinosa III, in an interview on Thursday, said he has been in discussions with the diplomat about developing trade, cultural and heritage exchanges during the Russian envoy’s visit here for the Agri-Aqua Investment Forum of the Panay Organic Producers Association Inc. held at the Iloilo Convention Center, Nov 7-9, 2018.
The envoy also visited this city last January for the Dinagyang Festival.
“It’s more of exploratory talks but they are pushing this one in December about a film festival,” he said.
He added the ambassador would like to bring in films that focus on children.
He also would like to explore possible investment areas as he talked about possible trade missions, he added.
The mayor also urged the envoy to encourage Russian tourists to consider Iloilo City as among their destinations. “During January it’s very cold in Russia, so they may consider coming to Iloilo during Dinagyang,” the mayor said.
He was also informed that the department in-charge of the Russian Navy has approved to make Iloilo as its port call when it visits the Philippines next year.