Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Alfredo Pascual has expressed to the Dutch government and businesses the need to further strengthen bilateral economic ties between the Philippines and the Netherlands.

This, as Pascual led the Philippine delegation to The Hague in a meeting with Dutch Deputy Minister Hanneke Schuiling last June 29, DTI said in a press statement released Monday.

The DTI chief cited sectors where the two countries can further explore cooperation. These include on semiconductors, agri-food processing and infrastructure.

He also conveyed that the Philippines is the Country Coordinator for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-European Union (EU) in the Indo-Pacific Asia interface until 2025, and maintaining close cooperation with the country will help in facilitating free movement of goods, services and people.

Pascual also expressed to the Dutch official the interest of the Philippines to have economic cooperation with the Netherlands, as neighboring ASEAN countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam have this framework with the EU country.

He also urged the Dutch government to renew the Programma Uitzending Managers (Manager Deployment Program) initiative in the country that will help local small entrepreneurs.

Pascual also sought the support of the Netherlands in renewing the EU Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) for the country and the resumption of the negotiations for the Philippines-EU Free Trade Agreement.

“There is a need to maintain this momentum as this can work in strengthening the cooperation and commitment from both our countries and put emphasis on trade and investments, water management, maritime matters, agriculture, and science and technology,” he added.

Boosting aviation industry

Pascual also led the roundtable meeting on aerospace sector in Delft.

“The Netherlands has a strong aviation and aerospace infrastructure, with world-class airports, aerospace research facilities, and maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services. We are open to collaborate with you in sharing expertise, promoting investments, and strengthening the aviation infrastructure in both countries, enabling us to keep up with global demands,” the trade chief said.

Pascual said the Philippines positions itself as the hub for aerospace manufacturing in Asia Pacific, as well as aftermarket services, including aircraft MRO.

The Netherlands is the second to the last stop of DTI officials who are doing a three-week trip in Europe to follow through on the investment pledges committed by European companies during the visit of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in Brussels and the Netherlands last year. (PNA)