THE Philippines and Germany have signed a joint declaration of intent to set up a Joint Economic Commission (JEC), a platform for expanding bilateral trade and investments, a German chamber of commerce official said.
“We are enthusiastic about Philippine-German trade relations through setting up a JEC as it will strengthen more economic partnerships across many sectors,” said Tristan Arwen Loveres, president of the German-Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GPCCI).
He said the signing of the joint declaration of intent “is a remarkable signal on the partnership and we are looking forward to (via) the JEC.”
Trade Undersecretary and Board of Investment Managing Head Ceferino S. Rodolfo and German Parliamentary State Secretary Thomas Bareifl signed the declaration on Aug. 20 at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy in Berlin.
GPCCI said Germany is the biggest trading partner of the Philippines in the European Union and its 11th largest trading partner with a total trade of $7.4 billion in 2018. — Victor V. Saulon
