THE European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) said over the weekend that it is partnering with the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) to advance joint initiatives, facilitate knowledge exchange, and expand opportunities for business engagement that support trade, investment, and broader economic cooperation.
Details were contained in an agreement signed April 16 by ECCP president Paolo Duarte and PCCI president Ferdinand Ferrer.
Witnessing the signing were ECCP vice presidents Roman Menz, Diana Edralin, and Lars Wittig, treasurer Albert Perez, and executive director Florian Gottein, and PCCI chairman Jude Aguilar and board members.
“In a time when the Philippines continues to be a highly attractive destination for European businesses, organizations such as ours play a vital role in translating potential into tangible outcomes,” Duarte said.
Both parties agree that the partnership will help broaden opportunities to maximize the benefits of the EU-Philippines Generalized Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+), while expecting the conclusion of the EU-PH Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations.
Under the EU GSP+, more than 6,000 Philippine products have preferential access to the EU market, with utilization rate reaching 80 percent in 2025.
In 2024, some €2.2 billion ($2.59 billion) worth of Philippine exports, with strong participation from domestic micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), benefited from the arrangement, which took effect in 2014 and will expire in 2027.
The EU-PH FTA is seen to be approved by June or July, Trade Secretary Cristina Roque said, noting it could bring in $12 billion in additional export revenue.
The FTA‘s fifth round of negotiations were held March 2 to 6 in Brussels. Once concluded, the EU GSP+ will also be renewed.
From January to June, total trade in goods between the EU and the Philippines amounted to €8.3 billion, a 3-percent increase from the same period in 2024.
Based on data from the Philippine Export Zone Authority, the country hosts over 190 locator companies with EU equity, with over P400 billion of cumulative European investments and supporting about 430,000 Filipino jobs nationwide.
The ECCP’s nearly 1,000 member firms range from small-to-medium enterprises to large corporations.
Serving the European-Philippine business community since 1978, the ECCP remains committed to enabling cross-sector collaboration, promoting economic growth, and championing a sustainable future. For inquiries or further information, you may contact us directly or connect with us through our official social media channels.