The Philippines and the United Kingdom expressed interest in further developing the two countries’ partnerships in renewable energy, creative industry, and digitalization.
This was the outcome of the bilateral meeting between Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual and Greg Hands, the UK’s minister of state for the Department of International Trade on the sidelines of the 40th and 41st Asean Summit in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on November 10.
Pascual and fellow trade ministers in the region endorsed the work plan on the the Asean-UK Joint Ministerial Declaration on Future Economic Cooperation, meant to further strengthen and set the direction of Asean and the UK’s economic relations.
The work plan builds on existing initiatives and possible cooperation programs between Asean and the UK in the areas of sustainable growth, infrastructure development, and digital transformation.
Pascual also represented the Philippines to the 21st ASsean Economic Community Council (AECC) meeting where he welcomed the progress made by ASEAN in facilitating economic integration in the region especially in the areas of trade facilitation, movement of natural persons, digital transformation, and sustainable economic development.
He also stressed the expansion of the list of essential goods to cover vaccines and vital supplies and equipment to address supply chain resiliency and connectivity, as well as the substantial conclusion of the negotiations for the Protocol to Amend the Asean Agreement on Movement of Natural Persons which is seen to facilitate the entry and exit of working professionals in the region.
Pascual welcomed the substantial conclusion of negotiations for the Protocol to Amend the Asean Agreement on Movement of Natural Persons, and reiterated the commitment of the Philippines to join the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement as soon as possible.
On the sidelines of the Asean events, Pascual on November 10 joined CEO roundtable attended by Cambodian business leaders in logistics, hospitality, retail, pharmaceutical manufacturing, IT and business process outsourcing, and startup development.
“These very well match our priorities back in the Philippines too,“ Pascual said.
