THE Philippines and Singapore have agreed to boost their cooperation in trade, investment and key industries like artificial intelligence and clean energy, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said on Saturday.
The president issued a statement after his meeting with Singaporean Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong in Malacañang on Thursday.
In a Facebook post, Marcos said the meeting reflected both nations’ commitment to deepening strategic partnerships in key industries and regional development.
“I had a productive meeting with Singapore Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong on how the Philippines and Singapore can work more closely in trade, investment, and emerging industries such as artificial intelligence and clean energy,” Marcos said.
The president also said that closer collaboration between the Philippines and Singapore supports efforts to build a more competitive and dynamic Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) region.
“As Asean works toward a more integrated and competitive region, closer cooperation between our countries helps strengthen our economy, create more opportunities for Filipinos and keep the Philippines ready for the future,” he added.
The Philippines and Singapore are strong partners in Asean, where both serve as founding members.
This year, the Philippines serves as chairman of Asean and will be followed by Singapore in 2027.
This back-to-back leadership presents a strategic opportunity for both countries to shape regional priorities and reinforce Asean’s relevance in a rapidly evolving global landscape, the Singapore Embassy in Manila said.
Enhanced defense collaboration, trade and investment support, and humanitarian assistance frameworks signal a shared commitment to regional security and resilience, it added.
The diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Singapore were formally established on May 16, 1969. This year marks the 57th anniversary of Philippines-Singapore bilateral relations.
Singapore ranked as the Philippines’ eighth-largest trading partner in 2024, reflecting the robust economic ties between the two nations.
Approximately 220,000 Filipinos currently reside in Singapore, further strengthening the people-to-people linkages.
