by pna
President Benigno S. Aquino III said he wants to achieve a
balanced trade between the Philippines and New Zealand as well as foster better people-to-people interaction during his two-day state visit here.
The President described bilateral trade ties as ‘very lopsided’ at this point primarily due to the huge gap in their population figures.
He said this issue has been raised the first time he met with Prime Minister John Key. He was expected to discuss this matter again during their scheduled bilateral meeting Tuesday.
“The first time I met the Prime Minister, foremost in my mind was a balance of trade which is very lopsided. And the first thing he said was we’re a population of about five million, I said we’re 95 million… Your market compared to our market really will produce the lopsided trade,†Aquino told Radio New Zealand Monday.
Aquino said the Philippines imports most of its
dairy products from New Zealand and so he invited New Zealand-based companies to explore other products we can offer such as electronics, home furnishings, and garments.
“We have a very significant business delegation looking at various opportunities and also the best in your salmon farms amongst others,†he said.
Aquino, moreover, said a working holiday agreement would be signed between
the Philippines and New Zealand to afford better people-to-people interaction thereby boosting the country’s tourism campaign.
“We’re supposed to sign an agreement to afford better people-to-people interaction wherein I think citizens from both countries can go to each other’s countries and work for something like a period of three months, for a maximum of a year to again foster greater interaction between our peoples. This will also hopefully enhance our tourism campaign,†he said.
Aquino also mentioned they are looking at the possibility of having direct flights from New Zealand to the Philippines courtesy of the major airlines of both countries which are going to have fleet expansions.
Linkback:
https://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php?topic=56050.0
