PH President secures US$2.5 billion in investments from Canada visit, ushering in new strategic partnership
PHILIPPINES: President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has returned from a four-day official visit to Canada with US$2.5 billion (S$3.23 billion) in investment commitments and the elevation of Philippine-Canada ties to a full strategic partnership, marking what he described as the start of a new chapter in the two nations’ relationship.
Marcos cited the gains before departing for Manila, saying his meetings with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and key economic players had paved the way for expanded cooperation across security, trade, investment, energy, and other priority sectors.
“This move, while reflective of the deep and strong bilateral relations that we have developed with Canada, also catalyses our next steps towards the new phase of our relations in ensuring the sustained and dynamic growth of our bilateral ties,” Marcos said, as quoted by the Philippine News Agency (PNA).
US$2.5 billion in commitments across key sectors
On the economic front, investment commitments worth US$2.5 billion were secured from Canadian business leaders, covering mining, critical minerals, energy, services, and the information technology and business process management (IT-BPM) sector. According to the PNA, among the companies eyeing business expansion in the Philippines were B2Gold Corporation, OceanaGold Corporation, Telus Corporation, and NQX.
Marcos said the discussions reinforced the Philippines’ position as a competitive investment destination and reliable partner for Canadian businesses seeking to expand their presence in the Indo-Pacific region.
Canada also pledged an initial CAD2 million (S$1.82 million) investment to support the Luzon Economic Corridor, covering infrastructure, supply chain, and clean energy projects. This is a smaller but symbolically significant commitment to a corridor that Manila has been actively promoting to international partners.
Trade agreements in the works
Marcos expressed hope for the conclusion of ongoing ASEAN-Canada free trade agreement negotiations within the year, saying the pact would deepen economic cooperation and support trade diversification. A separate Philippines-Canada free trade agreement is also currently being negotiated.
“Thus, it is already timely that we presently are negotiating a free trade agreement with Canada, which we hope will further strengthen our economic cooperation once it enters into force,” he said, as quoted by the PNA.
AI and emerging technology front and centre
High-level roundtable discussions with leading Canadian firms covered mining, critical minerals, energy, and IT-BPM, with conversations also touching on the development of global AI hubs and learning centres designed to upskill global workforces. The inclusion of AI-focused discussions signals that the Philippines is positioning itself not just as a destination for traditional outsourcing, but as a hub for AI-driven services and digital transformation.
Marcos directed Foreign Affairs Secretary Maria Teresa Lazaro to work with Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand to create a plan of action to guide joint efforts in addressing emerging global challenges, as well as to help strengthen future-ready partnerships.
Defence, rule of law, and the South China Sea
Marcos also highlighted progress in defence and security cooperation through existing mechanisms, including the Status of Visiting Forces Agreement and the Mutual Logistics Support Arrangement, describing them as translating commitments to regional peace into “practical and tangible actions.”
He welcomed Canada’s continued support for the rules-based international order, particularly its backing of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the 2016 arbitral award on the South China Sea, expressing hope that Ottawa would remain “one of the leading voices” in upholding the award as its 10th anniversary approaches.
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Several agreements were also signed during the visit to enhance cooperation in tourism, culture and arts, labour, and migration.
A community of nearly one million
Marcos met with members of the Filipino community in Canada, which is home to nearly one million Filipinos, expressing gratitude for their contributions to both the Philippine economy and Canadian society. He said he was heartened by the positive remarks Canadian officials and citizens had made about the Filipino diaspora.
He did, however, acknowledge the impact of recent amendments to Canada’s migration law, which have reduced the quota for Filipino workers. While stopping short of calling for changes to Canadian legislation, Marcos said he was seeking greater transparency and clarity on the new rules so that Filipinos already in Canada understand their status clearly.
“All we were asking is to make very clear and very transparent exactly what the rules are, so that the Filipinos here who are already in Canada know their status,” he said.
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