00:00And that is exactly what this geothermal partnership has become over the decades.
00:07Not only a story of technical expertise and energy cooperation between New Zealand and Philippine companies,
00:16of which so many are represented tonight, but also one of enduring friendships and shared journeys.
00:25From the early years in the 1960s and 70s, to the innovations you are bringing today,
00:35New Zealand and the Philippines have truly built something special together.
00:41Tonight is a chance to celebrate. Celebrate the legacy we have built and what lies ahead.
00:50I'm especially pleased to welcome our partners from the Department of Energy,
00:56the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Anti-Retape Authority and the Asian Development Bank,
01:02whose support continues to strengthen and expand this exciting collaboration.
01:09And it's also exciting to see one of our New Zealand companies beginning a new chapter in the Philippines.
01:17Tonight, we will mark the opening of Western Energy's first office in Manila.
01:31This is one reminder that our geothermal partnerships continues to grow.
01:37We saw the opportunity in the Philippines to bring the same technology and know-how
01:41and expertise to work alongside the Philippine industry here.
01:45And so, a natural extension of the work that we've been doing for the last three years with the industry
01:50was to have a more permanent presence.
01:52And so, the opening of a branch is a step in that direction.
01:56And we are very pleased that the hard work from the team has led us to today.
02:00Rather than them trying to deal with it and learn through mistakes, which is generally how you learn,
02:07they can engage us and we can accelerate their learning and address their issues quite quickly.
02:12What I see as a renewed partnership of this relationship between the Philippines and New Zealand
02:17is that it's basically strengthening the partnership we already have.
02:21New Zealand has an enormous amount of background knowledge that the New Zealand companies and service providers
02:29are always willing to try and help other geothermal countries develop their projects even better.
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