Economic ties between the Philippines and the Netherlands are expected to reach new heights as the two countries expressed interest in exploring more areas of cooperation on trade and investment. This came after the recent visit of Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Alfredo Pascual to The Hague, where he also met with Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Deputy Minister for Foreign Economic Relations Henneke Schuiling. Pascual asserted during his trip that "there is no better time to invest in the Philippines than now" as he cited the country's emergence as a prime investment destination in Southeast Asia. He said the Philippines is offering a host of attractive incentives to foreign investors in various industries, which include renewable energies, telecommunications, semiconductors, aerospace and retail trade. Meanwhile, after the meeting between Pascual and Schuiling, the two countries agreed to pursue more related initiatives, including an upcoming Dutch trade and business mission  to the Philippines in October 2023 and the convening of a political and economic bilateral consultations. The Philippines, for its part, vowed to take other steps to ensure ease of doing business. Philippine Ambassador to the Netherlands J. Eduardo Malaya said Pascual's visit signals the country's intent to elevate economic ties with the Netherlands to a higher level. "It has been sometime since a Philippine Trade Secretary came to the Netherlands. Secretary Pascual's visit paves the way to closer, mutually beneficial engagements between Filipino and Dutch business communities and will further enhance our already growing economic ties," he said.