00:00Direct flights to and from Paris to Manila is gaining more currency and support in the ongoing discussions of a business forum in Makati City
00:08seeking to increase entrepreneurial engagements between France and the Philippines.
00:14PTV correspondent Gab Villegas has the full report.
00:19Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Cristina Roque, French Minister for Foreign Trade and French Nationals Abroad, Laurent San Martin,
00:27and members of the Philippine and French business community attended the France-Philippines Business Forum in Makati.
00:33The Secretary encourages French companies to invest and expand their operations in the country.
00:38For Roque, foreign investments into the Philippines are critically important because of the revenue it generates for investors and the jobs they create for Filipinos.
00:47The Create More Act can be considered a game-changer on the flow of investments into the country, due in large part to a host of incentives for foreign investments.
00:56I strongly encourage French companies who have yet to enter the Philippine market to explore the vast opportunity that we offer.
01:05And to those already here, I extend a warm invitation to expand your operations further.
01:12The Department of Trade and Industry will always be here to assist you as best and as aggressive and as quickly as we can.
01:20The Philippines is also active in pursuing renewable and sustainable energy.
01:25For Minister San Martin, our country is considered a key economic partner of France due to the active and flourishing presence of French companies in the Philippines.
01:35The Philippines is France's sixth largest trading partner in the ASEAN region.
01:39Direct flights to Manila and Paris, which were just launched in December, will also help.
01:43Currently, France is the only country in Europe that has direct flights to Asia.
01:47This new route marks a tangible milestone in our relations, helping to facilitate trade, tourism, business exchanges.
01:57I sincerely hope that this direct link will help bring the Philippines closer to France and increase its visibility among our business community and travelers.
02:07Several agreements and partnerships between private companies and the transportation sector were also signed and witnessed by San Martin and Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon on air and marine transportation.
02:18Gabo Mil de Villegas from the National TV Network for a new and better Philippines.
