CANADA KEEN ON PH INFRASTRUCTURE, CLEAN ENERGY SECTORS

Canada is taking an active interest in the country’s infrastructure and energy sectors, focusing on these industries in its latest efforts to strengthen bilateral and trade ties with the Philippines.

The announcement was made on Tuesday by Canada’s minister of international trade, export promotion, small business and economic development Mary Ng, who was on a threeday visit that started on Sept. 18.

“On infrastructure, in particular, we are very much and have been very much working on how we could do more and collaborate more on the needs that the Philippines are identifying and how we can be a constructive, collaborative partner,” Ng said during a press conference.

She added that the North American country is also considering to participate in the local renewable energy subsector as well as digital industries.

The Canadian official said future collaborations would be channeled through the Canada-Philippines Joint Economic Commission, which was established in May this year.

“It is through that mechanism that, I think, will really help us determine those kinds of economic development opportunities that will work for the Philippines and that will work for Canada,” Ng said.

Ng highlighted that trade between Canada and the Philippines has grown in the last year, growing by more than 30 percent in 2021, totaling to $2.8 billion Canadian dollars or P121.2 billion.

More than improving the bilateral trade relations between the two countries, the Canadian minister said they were also seeking to develop it through agreements with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which the Philippines belong to.

“We are right now at the negotiation table negotiating a free trade agreement,” she added.