Philippines, Netherlands Boost Political and Economic Cooperation at 3rd Bilateral Consultations in Manila
MANILA 01 October 2024 – The Philippines and The Netherlands reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen cooperation across political, economic, and people-to-people relations, and dialogue on regional and global issues during the 3rd Philippines-Netherlands Bilateral Consultations, held in Manila on 26 September 2024.
DFA Assistant Secretary for European Affairs, Ms. Maria Elena P. Algabre, led the Philippine delegation while the Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Director for Asia and Oceania, Ms. Dominique Kuhling, led the Dutch delegation. Philippine Ambassador to The Netherlands J. Eduardo Malaya, and The Netherlands Ambassador to the Philippines Marielle Geraedts, also joined their respective delegations.
Philippine and Dutch economic cooperation have been steadily growing. The Netherlands is one the Philippines’ major trading and investment partners, with more Dutch companies entering the Philippine market or expanding their presence in the country. The Netherlands consistently ranks among the top five investor countries in the Philippines.
Prior to the bilateral consultations, the Philippine Embassy in The Hague hosted on 19 September 2024 the in-person meeting (with online participation) between the Embassy officials and the Philippine and Dutch Coordinating Authorities (focal persons) of the MOU on Economic and Technological Cooperation. The Embassy met with the Dutch focal person, Mr. Rogier Van Tooren of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, while the Philippine focal person, Director Marie Sherylyn D. Aquia of the Department of Trade and Industry, joined online.
During the bilateral consultations in Manila, both delegations underscored current and further cooperation in maritime, defense, and cybersecurity sectors; highlighted the growing trade and investment relations especially in key areas such as agri-food production, manufacturing, agro-logistics, water management, and infrastructure.
Both sides also recognized significant developments since the last bilateral consultations between the Philippines and the Netherlands in 2021, notably the visit to Manila of the Netherlands’ Foreign Minister in October 2023 and the meeting between President Ferdinand E. Marcos Jr. and H.M. Queen Maxima, the United Nations Secretary General Special Advocate for Financial Inclusion, in Malacañan Palace in May 2024.
The two sides also explored potential collaboration in capacity-building programs related to the law of the sea, as well as academic exchanges and research partnerships.
Both sides acknowledged that the partnership of the Philippines and Netherlands is based on shared democratic values, mutual interest and enduring friendship. They affirmed the two countries’ common desire to keep the momentum of cooperation, anchored in their shared commitment to multilateralism, international law and a rules-based global order in the Indo-Pacific and in the world. The Philippines expressed its appreciation for the Netherlands’ unwavering support to the Philippine position and actions relating to the West Philippine Sea/South China Sea issue.
The Philippines and the Netherlands are looking forward to the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of their bilateral relations in 2026. END
