October 19, 2025 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines is looking to strengthen its trade and investment ties with the European Union (EU), particularly in renewable energy (RE), semiconductors and critical minerals.
In a statement, the Office of the Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs (OSAPIEA) said that a high-level dialogue among Philippine government officials, the EU-ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Business Council (EU-ABC) and European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines was held on Oct. 14 to discuss how to strengthen economic relations between the Philippines and the EU.
The dialogue, conducted as part of the EU-ABC’s business mission to the Philippines, aimed to promote greater trade, investment, and cooperation to drive sustained regional growth.
“The EU remains a vital trade and investment partner,” SAPIEA Frederick Go said.
“We are inviting more European companies to invest and cooperate with us. The Philippine economy remains strong and resilient and this is the perfect moment to deepen our partnership and create sustainable economic opportunities together,” he said.
Trade Secretary Cristina Roque said the Philippine government is working on deepening ties with Europe and making the country the top choice for businesses looking to grow and invest.
“To our partners in Europe, this is the moment to look to the Philippines with renewed confidence. We’re creating a smoother and smarter way of doing business, simplifying procedures, modernizing systems, and making it possible for stronger cooperation in areas such as RE, semiconductors, critical minerals, and green manufacturing,” she said.
Go underscored the reforms that the government has put in place to provide an open, predictable, and investor-friendly business environment.
Among the key reforms are the CREATE MORE Act, the New Public-Private Partnership Code, and the green lanes for strategic investments.
The government has also recently approved legislative measures, including the Amended Investors’ Lease Act, the Enhanced Mining Fiscal Regime Act, and the Accelerated and Reformed Right of Way Act, all of which are aimed at positioning the Philippines as a prime destination for both European and ASEAN investors.
The dialogue also placed strong focus on advancing negotiations for the Philippines-EU free trade agreement (FTA), which is expected to open more trade and investment opportunities and support sustainable economic growth.
Go welcomed the commitment to conclude the FTA negotiations by mid-2026 to 2027.
For her part, EU-ABC mission lead Sharon Toh underscored that the targeted 2027 conclusion will coincide with the 50th anniversary of EU-ASEAN relations.