PHL Ambassador Discusses PH-CA Trade Relations with Parliamentary Secretary, Attends Parliamentary Friendship Group

Ambassador Petronila Garcia (R) presents a token to Parliamentary Secretary Pamela Goldsmith-Jones.

22 March 2018 OTTAWA — Philippine Ambassador Petronila P. Garcia called on Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Trade Pamela Goldsmith-Jones on March 20.

During the call, Ambassador Garcia briefed Parliamentary Secretary Goldsmith-Jones on economic developments in the Philippines. Ambassador Garcia informed Parliamentary Secretary Goldsmith-Jones that the Philippines’s sovereign credit rating has recently been upgraded by Fitch from BBB- to BBB.  The Ambassador likewise noted that now is the best time to invest in the Philippines, a view shared by the US News & World Report, which named the Philippines as the “Best Country to Invest In.” A number of Canadian companies have investments in the IT and BPO sector in the Philippines.

Parliamentary Secretary Goldsmith-Jones is a member of Parliament for West Vancouver – Sunshine Coast – Sea to Sky Country. She used to serve as Mayor of West Vancouver and was Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Philippine Ambassador Petronila Garcia (right) with MP Kevin Lamoreux, Parliamentary Secretary to the Government House Leader

Ambassador Garcia also attended the meeting of the Canada-Philippines Parliamentary Friendship Group at Parliament Hill in Ottawa on March 20. Chaired by MP Kevin Lamoreux, Parliamentary Secretary to the Government House Leader, the meeting was attended by around 15 Members of Canada’s House of Commons and Senate, and discussed various activities aimed at highlighting the growing Canadian population of Philippine descent who contribute to the rich diversity and economic progress of Canada. END

For more information, visit www.ottawape.dfa.gov.ph/ www.philembassy.ca or https://www.facebook.com/PHinCanada/