The United Kingdom has expressed strong support for the Philippines’ chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2026, as a high-level business delegation led by UK ASEAN Business Council (UKABC) chair Lord Vaizey visited Manila to strengthen bilateral relations and explore new investment opportunities.
Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs Frederick Go cited the administration’s drive to deepen cooperation and “turn investor interest into tangible results.”
Go noted the shared commitment to “create new growth opportunities—accelerating investments and translating British interest into projects that generate jobs and advance sustainable development.”
The visit is part of the Philippine government’s broader efforts to attract long-term, high-value investments and leverage the country’s upcoming ASEAN chairmanship to promote regional integration, innovation and sustainability.
Trade Secretary Ma. Cristina Roque said the United Kingdom “has been a steadfast partner in our pursuit of inclusive and sustainable growth.”
She said the countries “will build on this confidence through deeper trade, investment, and policy collaboration that benefits both our nations.”
UKABC chair Lord Vaizey commended the country’s economic performance, noting the productive dialogue with Go and Roque.
“The Philippine economy is doing extremely well, and the UKABC looks forward to supporting the Philippines’ ASEAN chairmanship in 2026,” he said.
The UK was the Philippines’ top foreign investor in 2024, led by Actis’ investment in the country’s largest solar and battery storage facility in Central Luzon. The UK also ranked as the fourth-largest investor across ASEAN.
The delegation included officials from the British Embassy and senior representatives of leading UK firms such as AstraZeneca, KPMG, PwC, Arup, OCS and the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA).
Officials said the discussions are expected to lead to concrete partnerships that will further strengthen the Philippines’ investment climate and foster inclusive growth.
