Ambassador Jaime Victor B. Ledda met with Mayor Jan Vermeulen and members of the City Council of Deinze, East Flanders, Belgium, on 11 June 2023. The meeting coincided with the Filipino community celebration of the 125th Anniversary of Philippine Independence and Nationhood, which was held in the city.

Ambassador Ledda lauded the city of Deinze for its green initiatives, bike-friendly zones, and transport connectivity, saying that it can be a model for sustainable cities in the Philippines. He raised the possibility of launching sister-city agreements between Deinze and local government units in the Philippines. He also expressed his gratitude to Mayor Vermeulen for his support for the Filipinos in his city and for providing legal assistance to Filipino victims of human trafficking.

Mayor Vermeulen mentioned that Filipinos make up a significant portion of Deinze’s 45,000 inhabitants. He thanked Ambassador Ledda for the relationship established by the Embassy with Deinze and looked forward to more collaborative projects with the Philippines in the future.

The meeting was also attended by Deputy Mayor and Alderman Bruno Dhaenens, Alderman Filip Vervaeke, Alderman Sofie D’hondt, Honorary Consul Ronny de Blaere, Madame Gina M. Ledda, and Embassy officers and staff, as well as its attached agencies.