DFA chief invites US-ASEAN business council to back PH post-pandemic plans
FOREIGN Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin Jr. invited the US-ASEAN Business Council (USABC) to resume business missions to the Philippines as soon as possible to support the country’s post-pandemic recovery efforts.
Locsin met with USABC president and CEO Ted Osius during his working visit to the United States to mark the 75th anniversary of Philippines-U.S. diplomatic relations.
During the meeting, the two discussed ways to further expand the three-decade-old partnership between the Philippines and USABC.
Locsin noted that USABC has been instrumental in ensuring that U.S. businesses find a reliable trade and investment partner and hub for their regional operations in the Philippines.
Osius, for his part, said there is huge potential for growth in Southeast Asia, with U.S. companies looking at opportunities for diversification in the region, particularly on supply chains.
Locsin congratulated Osius on his assumption as president and CEO of USABC.
The DFA chief stressed that President Rodrigo Duterte’s restoration of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) puts the relationship between the Philippines and the United States back on track and restores the security balance in the Asia-Pacific.
Osius said USABC members lauded President Duterte’s decision as it gives fresh impetus to further broaden PH-U.S. engagement, especially in the economic sphere.
Beyond health-related cooperation, the Philippines remains open to opportunities for collaboration in the energy, IT-BPM, manufacturing, and telecommunications sectors, all with an eye towards sustainability.
