THE United Kingdom is eyeing investment opportunities in the Philippines given its upbeat economic growth, according to the British Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (BCCP)According to the BCCP, British trade and investment opportunities were discussed during a meeting on March 3 at Bonifacio Global City between BCCP Executive Director Chris Nelson, British Ambassador to the Philippines Laure Boffils and British Trade Commissioner for the Asia-Pacific Natalie Black.The meeting highlighted British pork exports.'Last year, exports from the UK to the Philippines reached over 2.1 billion pounds,' the BCCP said on Monday.It added, 'British pork exports to the Philippines have also significantly increased — from around 25,299 tons in 2021 to 33,861 tons in 2022. Nearly a 34-percent increase.'The chamber has continuously advocated for extending the lower tariff rates for meat supply. In fact, on May 17 to 19, 2022, the chamber partnered with the UK's Agriculture Horticulture Development Board and conducted the first face-to-face trade mission.It is also an active advocate of Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and basically one of the business groups that strongly lobbied for it in the Philippine Congress.For 2023, the BCCP is optimistic that further opening up the Philippine market will promote liberalization and improve the ease of doing business.It added that this will promote and make the Philippines an investment destination and boost infrastructure developments and digitalization.The Great British Festival, which is set to take place on March 25 to 26, 2023 at Bonifacio Global City in Taguig City, will serve as an avenue for UK companies to further strengthen their presence in the country.
