IN a visit to Manila to open the eighth France-Philippines Joint Economic Committee meeting on June 27 and 28, French Minister of State attached to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne expressed France’s willingness to further enhance its bilateral relations with the Philippines in all aspects.
“My primary purpose today is to emphasize [the French government’s willingness] to further deepen its relations with the Philippines, with a particular emphasis on economics and business,” Lemoyne stated during the opening ceremonies of the bilateral economic meeting.
Noting the “fast and intense development” of the French-Philippine relations not only in trade and investments, but also in culture, defense and security, tourism, as well as in science, research and technology, Lemoyne reiterated France’s confidence in the Philippines as a country looking into the future with optimism, and “which has so many assets to be a major player in the region and in the world [soon].”
During his visit to Manila, the minister of state met with Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin Jr. as they discussed relevant bilateral, regional and international issues, as well as European Union (EU)-Philippines relations, human rights and climate change.
Relevant player, contributor
LEMOYNE noted that France, a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, is a relevant player in the Asia-Pacific region and seeks to “contribute in favor of peace, development and respect for international law.”
“Our two countries share common interests in supporting a rules-based international order, [as well as] trade and investments, regional and global security, including stability and economic development,” the French government official said.
In a meeting with Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III, Lemoyne recognized the strong economic performance of the Philippines. In turn, Dominguez invited France to further explore investment opportunities in the Philippines, particularly in infrastructure, transportation and defense.
Lemoyne also assured Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia of France’s continued support to the Philippines in achieving its development goals, particularly in the development of human capital, education, research and technology, and the environment.
“I think that France and the Philippines have a lot to do, not only in terms of trade, because we are two main engines in our respective areas: the Asean and the EU. It is crucial that we also have strong bilateral links at the political level,” Lemoyne said in his press statement.
French businesses confident in PHL
COINCIDING with this visit, a delegation of France-based companies from the French business association MEDEF International also concluded a three-day visit to the Philippines from June 26 to 28.
Said companies attended meetings with the Departments of Transportation as well as Trade and Industry, the Asian Development Bank, BDO Unibank Inc. and the Makati Business Club to explore investment opportunities in the Philippines, while both countries and business communities expand their economic cooperation.
During a briefing at the National Economic and Development Authority, in the presence of the MEDEF International delegation, Lemoyne reiterated the commitment of French companies to take part and invest in the country’s priority projects, particularly in the Duterte administration’s ambitious “Build, Build, Build” infrastructure program, as well as in the transport sector.
Led by the President of the Asean Committee of Medef International François Corbin, the delegation was composed of 17 French firms specializing in energy, urban transport, maritime and naval, aerospace, infrastructure, agribusiness and food, telecommunications, and tourism.
“The French companies that were here had the opportunity to expose their expertise and their know-how. The fact is that we… are not just here to help, to design or to build, but also to operate [and] to stay, because we do not want just a one-shot cooperation, but a strategic relationship between our companies and our countries,” Lemoyne said.
Eighty French companies are currently present in the Philippines, providing jobs to around 50,000 Filipinos.