By Joyce Ann L. Rocamora/Philippine News Agency
MANILA — The French and Philippine governments on Friday concluded the 8th Philippines-France Joint Economic Commission (JEC) meeting in Manila, agreeing to come up with more exchanges to increase trade and investment ties as well as boost development cooperation.
In the latest JEC meet, the two nations have opened “new inroads” as a result of ongoing shipbuilding and maritime industry agreements which will pave the way to the entry of French companies to the Philippines, according to Trade and Investment Secretary Ramon Lopez.
Infrastructure and transportation-related projects were also identified by the two partners.
Among items discussed were information and communication technology, infrastructure development, cable car systems, rapid bus transit systems, industrial park development, and even international food terminal, Lopez said.
Lopez said the France-Philippines JEC is the longest running economic meet in the country.
“We have been running the Philippines-France JEC since the first one hosted in Manila in 1996. The main objective of the JEC was and still is to develop economic relations between the two countries in the framework of open international exchanges,” he said in a speech Friday.
Aside from developing trade and investment ties, French Minister of State Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne said France is also interested in expanding cooperation with Manila in research, culture, and defense and security.
On the sidelines of the JEC meeting in Manila, Lemoyne met with Foreign Affairs Secretary Locsin Jr.
“With Secretary Locsin, we discussed most bilateral issues and also strategic issues because France, you know, is a permanent member of the Security Council of the United Nations,” he told reporters in an interview.
Locsin earlier said Paris has offered “some of the best military hardware” to the Philippines.
Prodded for a categorical answer, the French official said the Philippines has to state what is needed.
“Those discussions will continue… of course we have great expertise in submarine and in the region, we established a strategic partnership with Australia in submarines and it’s a proof of the quality of our industry but not only the quality, also the fact that France can establish strategic partnerships in the region,” he said.
“(It is) the Philippines who has to define what is the need, what they want and then, of course, we will apply to fulfill these needs,” he added.
Lemoyne did not provide further details but said they are hoping to welcome Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana “in the coming months to Paris” to further discuss this aspect of cooperation.
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