PHILIPPINES SUPPORTS COMOROS’ ARCHIVAL OPERATIONS WITH EQUIPMENT DONATION
PH Ambassador Marie Charlotte G. Tang (left) handed over to Dr. Toiwilou Mze Hamadi, Director-General of the Centre National De Documentation Et De Recherche Scientifique Comoros the archiving equipment donated by the Philippine Government.
MORONI, 19 June 2024 – The Philippine Government, through Secretary for Foreign Affairs Enrique A. Manalo, donated archiving equipment and software to the National Center for Documentation and Scientific Research (CNDRS) of Comoros.
Philippine Ambassador to Comoros Marie Charlotte G. Tang, with residence in Nairobi, Kenya, handed over one set of high-specification desktop computer, a multifunctional printer with scanner, and archive software to CNDRS Director-General Toiwilou Mze Hamadi on 17 June 2024 in Moroni, the capital of Comoros.
Ambassador Tang recalled her first visit to the CNDRS in 2022, on the occasion of her presentation of credentials to Comorian President Azali Assoumani, during which she donated books on Philippine culture and tourism to the Center and noted the latter’s need for equipment to help in digitizing important heritage documents.
She conveyed that the donation, while modest, is a gesture of the friendship between the two countries and in recognition of the common aspirations shared by both as developing island nations.
She expressed the hope that the equipment will play a part in preserving Comoros’ rich history.
Director-General Hamadi thanked the Philippine Government for its donation, which will help improve the Center’s operational efficiency.
He voiced his hope for further collaboration with the Philippines, including on training in conservation, restoration, project management, and digitalization.
The CNDRS is in charge of gathering, preserving, and disseminating information on Comoros’ development. It also manages the National Museum, Library, and Archives; studies volcanic activity in the archipelago, and promotes scientific research related to the country's heritage.
The donation coincides with the signing of the first Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Philippines and Comoros, which is expected to pave the way for further exchanges and cooperation.
Comoros, a small archipelago in the Indian Ocean between the coasts of Mozambique and Madagascar, is home to approximately 850,000 people and is influenced by African, Arab, and French cultures. Its economy is primarily based on agriculture, with key exports including vanilla, cloves, and ylang-ylang (perfume essence), complemented by a growing tourism sector that showcases its volcanic landscapes and rich marine biodiversity. END
Ambassador Tang and Director-General Hamadi explore other potential areas of collaboration between the Philippines and the CNDRS.
Ambassador Tang and Director-General Hamadi sign the deed of donation and acceptance of archiving equipment from the Philippines.
Following the handover ceremony, CNDRS officials invited Ambassador Tang to visit the newly renovated Comoros National Museum, located within the CNDRS.
