UK tags PH in its ‘Emerging Powers’ list

CEBU CITY, Cebu – The British government has tagged the Philippines as among the 36 countries it considers an “emerging power,” which, British Ambassador to the Philippines Asif Ahmad said, it considers to be “commercially, economically and politically significant.”

Ahmad, who was here for the British Embassy’s GREAT Campaign, also said the British government has made a commitment to make strides in expending resources to promote the United Kingdom (U.K.) in Philippine key cities, including Cebu.

Such promotion includes the GREAT campaign, which presents the best of British business and culture in various countries around the globe.

Ahmad also said that more highlevel officials are taking time to visit the Philippines. For instance, next week he said, the daughter of the Queen of England, HRH, Anne, the Princess Royal, will be coming to Manila.

He stressed that the U.K. is pushing to deepen its business ties with the Philippines, being the largest European investor in the country with foreign direct investment amounting to about $1 billion.

Ahmad said they brought the Great campaign to Cebu, noting the latter’s importance in the U.K.’s relations with the Philippines.

“Cebu is vital to our relations with the Philippines. Our honorary consul is based there, and we have a U.K. Visa Application Centre operating in Cebu City. A number of British companies already operate in Cebu, lured by the appeal of the vigorous local business climate and the skilled and productive labor force. We are looking to explore even more business opportunities in Cebu and across the Visayas, and for British companies to bring in new products and services and to tap into local skills and talents to create more jobs there,” the Ambassador said in a statement.

Last Thursday, he was accompanied by a business delegation composed of executives from Diageo, GlaxoSmithKline, HSBC, Mini, STI and Arup to meet with government officials and the Cebu Chamber of Commerce for a dialogue focused on commercial business and trade in Cebu. He also hosted a reception in the Mini Philippines showroom.

Earlier that day, the British Ambassador delivered the keynote speech at the UK Education Forum held at the University of San Carlos to inform those in attendance about the UK’s flagship Chevening Scholarship program.

The GREAT Campaign in Cebu also featured the Philippine premier screening of National Theatre Live’s Frankenstein and the U.K. in Miniature exhibit at the SM City Cebu.

“The GREAT campaign builds mutual prosperity and deeper friendship with the Philippines, celebrating all aspects of British excellence that bridge business and cultural ties,” Ahmad said. The campaign showcases British innovation and creativity as experienced through music, food, fashion, film, education, literature, art and design.

Meanwhile, Ahmad said he hopes the controversy over the Mamasapano incident could be resolved at the fastest time possible, “with the goal of attaining peace.”

He stressed, “We are not here to take sides. But we are saddened that the incident has become tied to the peace process. It has created a situation where the peace process has been dragged into the same issue, which should not be the case,” he said.

The British Ambassador expressed the hope that everyone “work for peace” and make contributions that would attain it.