Photo from: The Embassy of France to the Philippines and Micronesia
METRO MANILA, Philippines – France is deepening its economic engagement with the Philippines, signaling renewed confidence in the country’s growth outlook and governance reforms, as demonstrated during the 11th Philippines-France Joint Economic Committee (JEC) last November 4, 2025.
During the meeting, senior officials and business leaders from both countries outlined an agenda to strengthen bilateral cooperation across infrastructure, transport, aviation, agriculture, cybersecurity, maritime development, and the technologies sector.
Department of Trade and Industry Undersecretary Allan B. Gepty, who co-chaired the meeting, said discussions reflected the “strong and expanding economic relations” between Manila and Paris.
France expressed strong optimism about the Philippines as an investment destination, stating the great opportunities in electronics, aerospace, renewable energy, public works, and agriculture. French companies are reportedly exploring increased participation in infrastructure and mobility projects, including railways and maritime development.
France is currently the Philippines’ 19th largest trading partner, with bilateral trade reaching around USD 1.54 billion in 2024. It is also the country’s 20th largest export market and 18th biggest source of imports. Total trade between both sides has grown 4.3% over the past decade, a figure officials say remains modest given the high potential for expansion.
A recently signed government-to-government (G2G) financing framework, finalized back in June 2024, was cited as a milestone that would streamline project approvals and strengthen coordination for major initiatives. The talks also highlighted cybersecurity, digital innovation, and even film development and tourism as emerging areas for future collaboration.
A major highlight of the meeting was France’s continued strong support for the Philippines-European Union Free Trade Agreement (PH-EU FTA). Both sides emphasized that the proposed deal could pave the way for greater flow of investment and deepen relationships with European markets.
“The growing presence of French companies in the Philippines demonstrates their confidence in the market’s potential and their interest in developing new areas of collaboration,” the French delegation said, also citing opportunities in sustainable industries and high-value exports.
As both countries push forward with FTA negotiations and expand cooperation through the JEC, officials highlighted the increasingly strategic nature of Philippines–France economic ties.
“Moving forward, our relations with France look very promising,” Mr. Gepty said. “We see new prospects for cooperation and investments, particularly as we work toward deeper trade relations with the EU.”
The two nations are expected to hold follow-up technical meetings in the coming months to advance sector-specific initiatives and track progress on ongoing reforms.