President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. announced that the Philippines and Canada have elevated their bilateral relations to a strategic partnership, a move that also resulted in US$2.5 billion in investment commitments from Canadian companies following his official visit to Canada.
In his post-visit report, President Marcos said his meetings with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, government officials, and business leaders strengthened cooperation in security, trade, energy, technology, and investment.
The President said the strategic partnership marks a new phase in Philippine-Canada relations and serves as a roadmap for deeper collaboration. He also directed Foreign Affairs Secretary Maria Teresa Lazaro to work with Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand in crafting a joint action plan to address shared challenges and strengthen future-ready partnerships.
Both countries also reaffirmed the importance of a free and open Indo-Pacific region. President Marcos thanked Canada for its continued support for the rules-based international order in the South China Sea, particularly the 2016 Arbitral Award and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
On the economic front, the President met with executives from B2Gold Corporation, OceanaGold Corporation, TELUS Corporation, and NQX to discuss investments in mining, critical minerals, energy, information technology, business process management, and the digital economy. The engagements generated a combined US$2.5 billion in investment commitments.
President Marcos also said discussions with Canadian firms included plans to establish artificial intelligence hubs and learning centers in the Philippines to develop AI-related skills.
He expressed optimism that the ongoing negotiations for a Philippines-Canada free trade agreement would further expand economic cooperation. Canada also committed an initial two million Canadian dollars to support projects under the Luzon Economic Corridor.
The President and Prime Minister Carney likewise witnessed the signing of a Joint Declaration of Intent on Energy and Natural Resources Cooperation and reaffirmed both countries’ commitment to strengthening defense and security ties through existing bilateral agreements.
