Trade and Industry Secretary Alfredo E. Pascual has sought cooperation with Netherlands on semiconductor and high-technology, agri-food processing, and infrastructure to enhance bilateral trade relations between the two countries.
Pascual raised potential cooperation in these sectors during his meeting with Netherlands Deputy Minister Hanneke Schuiling as he highlighted the growing relations of the country with the Netherlands, with trade growth averaging around 10 percent annually over the past five years. In his remarks, Pascual stressed the significant role of the Philippines in the Indo-Pacific-Asia interface as it recently assumed the role of Country Coordinator for ASEAN-EU relations until 2025. With this, the Secretary emphasized the importance of maintaining open economies and societies that will facilitate the relatively free movement of goods, services, and people. He expressed enthusiasm for the first bilateral consultations conducted between the Philippines and the Netherlands in 2020 after 69 years. As such, Secretary Pascual stressed, “There is a need to maintain this momentum as this can work in strengthening the cooperation and commitment from both our countries and put emphasis on trade and investments, water management, maritime matters, agriculture, and science and technology.” The Philippine delegation also reminded the Dutch side of the “coordinating authorities or focal points” as outlined in Article 4 of the 1995 Memorandum of Understanding on Economic and Technological Cooperation between the Ministry of Economic Affairs of the Netherlands and DTI-Philippines. This MOU recognizes cooperation in various areas including trade and investment; agriculture; transport and communication; energy; the services sector; environmental technology; and, flood control and land reclamation. In addition, Pascual expressed the Philippines interest to become the sixth priority of the Netherlands for economic cooperation. At present, Netherlands prioritizes Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. Likewise, the DTI chief also sought the continuation of the Programma Uitzending Managers (PUM) initiative in the Philippines following the decision by the Netherlands’ lower house bicameral parliament to withdraw PUM’s presence in 12 countries, including the Philippines.
Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Alfredo E. Pascual and Netherlands Deputy Minister Hanneke Schuiling discuss economic cooperation to improve bilateral trade relations as part of DTI's investment roadshow in Europe.
Pascual raised potential cooperation in these sectors during his meeting with Netherlands Deputy Minister Hanneke Schuiling as he highlighted the growing relations of the country with the Netherlands, with trade growth averaging around 10 percent annually over the past five years. In his remarks, Pascual stressed the significant role of the Philippines in the Indo-Pacific-Asia interface as it recently assumed the role of Country Coordinator for ASEAN-EU relations until 2025. With this, the Secretary emphasized the importance of maintaining open economies and societies that will facilitate the relatively free movement of goods, services, and people. He expressed enthusiasm for the first bilateral consultations conducted between the Philippines and the Netherlands in 2020 after 69 years. As such, Secretary Pascual stressed, “There is a need to maintain this momentum as this can work in strengthening the cooperation and commitment from both our countries and put emphasis on trade and investments, water management, maritime matters, agriculture, and science and technology.” The Philippine delegation also reminded the Dutch side of the “coordinating authorities or focal points” as outlined in Article 4 of the 1995 Memorandum of Understanding on Economic and Technological Cooperation between the Ministry of Economic Affairs of the Netherlands and DTI-Philippines. This MOU recognizes cooperation in various areas including trade and investment; agriculture; transport and communication; energy; the services sector; environmental technology; and, flood control and land reclamation. In addition, Pascual expressed the Philippines interest to become the sixth priority of the Netherlands for economic cooperation. At present, Netherlands prioritizes Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. Likewise, the DTI chief also sought the continuation of the Programma Uitzending Managers (PUM) initiative in the Philippines following the decision by the Netherlands’ lower house bicameral parliament to withdraw PUM’s presence in 12 countries, including the Philippines.