Ireland Invited to Explore Business Opportunities in the Philippines

Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter S. Cayetano discusses with Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney the economic opportunities available for Irish companies in the Philippines during their bilateral meeting on the sides of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

10 October 2017 NEW YORK – The Philippines is inviting Ireland to explore infrastructure development and other economic opportunities in the country.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter S. Cayetano conveyed the invitation to Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney during their bilateral meeting on the sides of the 72nd Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

"Foreign Minister Coveney and I discussed real opportunities for economic cooperation for the Philippines and Ireland and we are both looking forward to making this happen," Secretary Cayetano said. 

During his meeting with Minister Coveney, Secretary Cayetano discussed the Build Build Build Program of the Duterte Administration and encouraged Irish companies to consider participating in the program. 

The Secretary also cited the ongoing tax reforms, transparency and other new economic policies that would make the Philippines attractive to Irish companies. 

Foreign Minister Coveney mentioned real opportunities for economic cooperation between Manila and Dublin in the technological and medical industries, information and communications technology and software development, and food and nutrition.

According to him, Ireland is seeking to expand its export markets, particularly in food products as it produces ten times more than what its population of 4.77 million people needs.

The Irish foreign minister also stated that with the European Union Free Trade Agreement, the Philippines could access the EU through Ireland, which is now the only English-speaking economy in the regional bloc. END