UK trade envoy supports UK-Philippine trade
RICHARD GRAHAM, MP, UK Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy to the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the ASEAN Economic Community, recently returned to the Philippines to further boost trade and investment between the UK and the Philippines.
On his third official visit to the Philippines, Mr. Graham visited Bataan, Pampanga, and Manila. He discussed potential infrastructure development with Bataan Governor Albert Garcia and visited Mariveles Port, a dry bulk cargo port run by SNSPI (SEASIA Nectar Port Services, Inc.) and the UK-based Nectar Group that was partly funded by UK Export Finance.
He also visited Clark Green City in Pampanga to meet with the Department of Transportation (DoT), delivered a keynote speech for the local Chambers of Commerce, and engaged the Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA) on their future plans for Clark.
Mr. Graham also called on Secretary Delfin Lorenzana of the Department of National Defense and Secretary Fortunato Dela Peña of the Department of Science & Technology. He hosted an event promoting the entry of British beef into the Philippines and met with Filipino tech entrepreneurs in Makati.
Louis Taylor, chief executive of UK Export Finance, visited the Philippines immediately prior to Mr. Graham’s arrival, on Sept. 21. UK Export Finance is the official export credit agency of the UK government, offering financing and support to overseas buyers of UK exports. Mr. Taylor met with representatives from the Department of Finance, the Department of Public Works & Highways, and the Asian Development Bank.
UK Export Finance has just doubled its maximum cover limit for the Philippines, from £2.1 billion to £4.2 billion while offering its lowest country rate for Philippine projects. With the Philippine government about to kick off an ambitious round of infrastructure development, greater access to UK export credit will further boost the process of Philippine development.
Mr. Graham is the conservative member of Parliament for Gloucester. He began his business career with the Swire Group, as general manager for Cathay Pacific in the Philippines. He has also worked in the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office, and was previously posted in Kenya and China.