DTI lures Dutch aviation, aerospace firms to Philippines

MANILA, Philippines — Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual invited Dutch aviation and aerospace firms to pursue more partnerships in the Philippines, highlighting the country’s capabilities for manufacturing and aftermarket services.

In a statement yesterday, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said Pascual recently led the roundtable meeting (RTM) on the aerospace sector between the Philippines and the Netherlands.

“The Netherlands has a strong aviation and aerospace infrastructure, with world-class airports, aerospace research facilities, and maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services. We are open to collaborate with you in sharing expertise, promoting investments, and strengthening the aviation infrastructure in both countries, enabling us to keep up with global demands,”Pascual said.

“Our country is positioned to be the hub for manufacturing and aftermarket services in the aerospace industry, including aircraft MRO and aerospace manufacturing in the Asia Pacific region,” he added.

Pascual said the Philippines is home to Collins Aerospace, the world’s leading aircraft interiors company and Lufthansa Technik, a top MRO provider.

The Trade Secretary sees the Netherlands as a gateway for Philippine airline companies to expand their operations in Europe given its record as a major European hub.

“This potential link between the two countries can facilitate business and tourism travel, as well as trade and investments between the two countries,” the DTI said.

Pascual also cited education and skills development, promotion of sustainable aviation, and the development of space technology and applications as other areas for collaboration between the two countries.

With the Netherlands having renowned aerospace engineering programs and research institutions, Pascual highlighted that the Philippines would benefit greatly from joint research projects, knowledge exchange, and training programs, building the country’s capacity in this sector.

With the shortage of engineering and talent in Europe, opportunities for outsourcing flight simulation, voice, and engineering consultancy were also discussed during the RTM.

Pascual also emphasized that the government finds the aerospace and aviation industry significant in the country’s pursuit of economic recovery and expansion.

He stressed that developments in this industry do not only generate employment opportunities for Filipinos, but also facilitate knowledge transfer and technological development, which, in turn, will help position the Philippines as a key player in the global market.

The RTM was organized by the Philippine Trade and Investment Center in collaboration with the Netherlands Aerospace Group (NAG), a trade association dedicated to supporting aerospace and aviation companies in the Netherlands by facilitating networking opportunities and accessing broader markets.

With over 100 members, NAG represents a remarkable 95 percent of the Dutch aviation industry’s revenue. Currently, their primary focus revolves around aerospace and airport development.

Meanwhile, the DTI said that Pascual also met with Dutch Deputy Minister for Foreign Economic Relations Hanneke Schuiling during his visit to The Netherlands.

During the meeting, Pascual highlighted the potential to enhance bilateral trade relations between the Philippines and the Netherlands in sectors such as semiconductor and high-technology, agri-food processing, and infrastructure.

He noted the Philippines’ growing relations with the Netherlands, with trade growth averaging around 10 percent annually over the past five years.

Pascual stressed the significant role of the Philippines in the IndoPacific-Asia interface as it recently assumed the role of country coordinator for ASEAN-EU relations until 2025.

“With this, the secretary emphasized the importance of maintaining open economies and societies that will facilitate the relatively free movement of goods, services, and people,” the DTI said.

Moreover, Pascual expressed enthusiasm for the first bilateral consultations conducted between the Philippines and the Netherlands in 2020 after 69 years.

“There is a need to maintain this momentum as this can work in strengthening the cooperation and commitment from both our countries and put emphasis on trade and investments, water management, maritime matters, agriculture, and science and technology,” Pascual said.

Pascual also sought the continuation of the Programma Uitzending Managers (PUM) initiative in the Philippines following the decision by the Netherlands’ lower house bicameral parliament to withdraw PUM’s presence in 12 countries, including the Philippines.