UK Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy to the Philippines Richard Graham
MANILA -- United Kingdom (UK) Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy to the Philippines Richard Graham has proposed to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson to hold an investment forum between the UK and the 10 member-states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean).
Graham told reporters here Tuesday that the proposed UK-Asean investment forum aims to gather heads of states of the Southeast Asian bloc and the British Prime Minister.
“I talked briefly with our Prime Minister a couple of weeks ago about having Asean investment forum in the UK. We had an Africa investment forum last month. There were five or six heads of states, and lots of people there,” he said.
The inaugural UK-Africa Investment Summit in London in January invited state leaders from Africa as well as businessmen.
The summit, hosted by the UK, aims to pursue the British government’s target to be the largest investor in Africa.
The event also had an exhibition space for African and British entrepreneurs to showcase their products and services in both markets.
The trade envoy said the investment forum with the Asean can also showcase the creative industry along with the traditional goods and services that economic bloc can offer to the British market.
“To have an Asean investment forum whether there’s an opportunity for films, for fashion, for writing, a lot of things in cultural side, as well as the more traditional exports. I think that would be a good opportunity for the Philippines,” Graham added.
He said the weaving and textile industries in the Philippines have big opportunities in the UK.
Graham further said the British government is promoting strengthening of trade and investment ties with different countries and regions as it pursues independent trade arrangements around the globe as the UK finally leaves the European Union at the end of the year. (PNA)
