President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is using his official visit to Vancouver to deepen economic ties with Canada, pitching the Philippines as a prime destination for investments while pushing forward negotiations for a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA).
Speaking before departing for Canada on Wednesday, Marcos said the visit is aimed at expanding two-way trade, attracting fresh Canadian capital, and positioning the Philippines “within the investment radar of Canada’s economic players” as the government courts investors in high-growth industries.
The President said he will hold one-on-one meetings and business roundtables with Canadian executives to showcase opportunities in mining and critical minerals, renewable and nuclear energy, information technology and business process management (IT-BPM), telecommunications, cybersecurity, and financial services.
Marcos is also set to meet Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, with discussions expected to center on strengthening trade and investment ties while exploring broader cooperation in defense, security, and regional affairs.
“Our key focus is a deepening of trade and investment relations, with the goal of increasing our two-way trade and bringing the Philippines within the investment radar of Canada’s economic players,” Marcos said.
The President said negotiations for a Philippines-Canada FTA are “very much in the works,” complementing the wider ASEAN-Canada trade talks and signaling both countries’ intent to widen market access and encourage greater business activity.
His visit comes as Manila seeks to diversify trade partnerships and attract investments into strategic industries amid shifting global supply chains and growing demand for critical minerals and clean energy.
Marcos said recent gains—including Canada’s approval of Philippine mango exports, Air Canada’s launch of nonstop Vancouver-Manila flights, and expanding defense cooperation—have laid the groundwork for stronger commercial relations. He expressed confidence the visit would yield a concrete roadmap for boosting investment flows and sustaining the momentum in bilateral economic ties.
