Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon M. Lopez highlighted the importance of sustainable development for the Philippines during the courtesy call of UK Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy Richard Graham held on Feb 16, 2022.
Trade Secretary Lopez shared that one of the key priority areas for the country in terms of trade and investment is sustainable development in the form of renewable energy, manufacturing of electronic vehicles (EVs), and green metals.
Following this, the Trade Envoy expressed interest in further developing the two countries’ partnerships in infrastructure, renewable energy, creative industry, and digitalization.
Additionally, Trade Envoy Graham took the opportunity to commend the Philippine legislators and the economic team, of which the DTI is part of, for the recent policy reforms that paved the way for the liberalization of trade and investment such as the Retail Trade Liberalization Act (RTLA), Public Service Act (PSA), and the Foreign Investments Act (FIA).
He also expressed his willingness to help the country secure more investments from the UK and further strengthen the bilateral trade relationship of the two countries.
Together with the Trade Envoy were UK Ambassador to the Philippines Laure Beaufils, Director for Trade and Investment Richard Colley, and Senior Trade Manager Emma Leister.
Meanwhile, Secretary Lopez was joined by Industry Development and Trade Policy Group (IDTPG) Undersecretary Ceferino Rodolfo, Foreign Trade Service Corps (FTSC) Assistant Secretary Raymond Batac, Bureau of International Trade Relations Assistant Director Sherylyn Aquia, and Deputy Chief-of-Staff Enrico Mariano.
