Canada backs Philippines energy transition

TORONTO – Canada has committed to support the Philippines in its energy transition, particularly in diversifying into cleaner sources of power such as nuclear.

Canadian minister of export promotion, international trade and economic development Mary Ng met with the Philippine nuclear trade mission delegation on Wednesday to discuss potential areas for collaboration on energy.

“We think that Canada is well placed to work with the Philippines, to support the Philippines, to work together in meeting the challenges of the future, which is energy on one hand. But energy that is green, that is climate compliant,” she said.

“When I talk to businesses here in Canada, they are looking for opportunities to collaborate in green technologies. Nuclear is one, but there’s a variety of circularity of businesses that are developing here in Canada but also in the Philippines,” she added.

With a strong reputation for exporting top quality reactor systems and related infrastructure,  Canada is  regarded as a global leader in nuclear technology.

“Canada is a tier 1 nuclear country. What that means is that everything in the nuclear supply chain, Canada has a lot of experience over many, many decades,” Ng said.

“But whether it is in nuclear or in the other sectors that really underpin the Canada-Philippines relationship, it’s an important relationship to Canada,” she said.

A delegation composed of government officials and private sector executives are currently in Canada for a week-long trade mission to learn from the successes and challenges of the Canadian experience in nuclear energy.

Ng said Canadian investors are set to visit the Philippines by the end of the year to explore potential investment opportunities not only in the energy sector, but also in digital and e-commerce  businesses.

“I am taking a trade mission to the Philippines in December. There are many businesses here in Canada who are interested in pursuing opportunities, investments and just two-way trade between the Philippines and Canada. And it will be across many sectors. I hope there will also be in nuclear and we can follow up this very important visit,” Ng said.

“Part of the work that is actually a lead up to the business mission is really looking at where the needs are on the Philippines and where the opportunities are and the Canadian businesses that actually see both the investment and the business opportunities,” she said.

Canada and the Philippines are celebrating the 75th anniversary of their diplomatic relations this year.

“This speaks to not only the 75 years that we’ve been friends, but the opportunities to build more of that commercial and investment relationship going forward,” Ng said.