9 April 2025, Seoul - Top members of the Philippine economic management team led by Special Assistant to the President for Economic and Investment Affairs Frederick Go and Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu-Laurel met with executives from leading South Korean companies to discuss strategic opportunities and future collaboration in high-growth industries such as electric vehicles, shipbuilding, renewable energy, mining, space technology, and advanced manufacturing in the Philippines. 

Secretary Go encouraged leaders and top executives of South Korean companies to take advantage and seize growing opportunities in the Philippines under the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises to Maximize Opportunities for Reinvigorating the Economy (CREATE MORE) law. 

The Special Assistant to the President likewise highlighted the rapid progress in infrastructure development and industrial growth in the Philippines as key priorities of the Marcos administration, presenting high-growth industries such as in electric vehicles, renewable energy, mining, and advanced manufacturing—sectors at the heart of the Philippines’ investment strategy to ROK executives as potential opportunities for collaboration and investment. The Secretary also witnessed an MOU signing between BCDA and Saekyung Industrial Co., along with executives from the Korea Overseas Infrastructure and Development Corporation.

Secretary Go also held a bilateral meeting with ROK Trade Minister Ahn Duk Geun ahead of the 2025 Philippine Business forum, where both sides discussed strategic avenues for stronger economic cooperation in areas such as trade, investment, supply chains, natural resources, and carbon-free energy. Both sides also noted how the two countries have established a basis for wider economic cooperation with their bilateral relations elevated to a strategic partnership. Minister Ahn also added that going forward, the ROK government plans to leverage economic cooperation platforms in making intergovernmental efforts to promote smooth business collaboration between the two countries.

Philippine Secretary for Agriculture Francisco Tiu-Laurel also joined business and investment meetings related to agricultural machinery and the modernization of the Philippine agriculture and agri-mechanization sectors, including a meeting with Korea Agricultural Machinery Industry Cooperation (KAMICO) and the Federation of Korean Industries (FKI). 

Undersecretary Ceferino S. Rodolfo and Executive Director Ma. Corazon Halili-Dichiosa from the Department of Trade and Industry - Board of Investments, Undersecretary Jerome Oliveros of the Department of Agriculture, Director Patrick Aquino of the Department of Energy, and the Philippine Embassy in Seoul led by Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega also participated in the meetings which highlighted the Philippine investment strategy to Korean counterparts, positioning the country as a leading hub for investments and showcasing the new incentives introduced under the CREATE Act. 

Joining Ambassador Dizon-De Vega as members of the Philippine Embassy economic team are Third Secretary and Vice Consul Reisha Olavario, Commercial Attaché Charmaigne Mignon S. Yalong, and Agricultural Attaché Lev Nikko Macalintal. 

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