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The Philippines and India reaffirmed their bilateral trade commitments and are exploring opportunities to further deepen cooperation across a range of sectors and a preferential trade agreement
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At the 14th Philippines–India Joint Working Group on Trade and Investment held June 5, discussions included participation in each other’s trade fairs and exhibits, customs cooperation, and investments and cooperation in renewable energy, ICT, IT-BPM, AI, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, film, and other areas of mutual interest
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The two countries exchanged views on the negotiations of the Philippines–India PTA, taking into account the progress in the review of the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement
The Philippines and India reaffirmed their bilateral trade commitments and are exploring opportunities to further deepen cooperation across a range of sectors and a preferential trade agreement (PTA).
These were discussed during the recent 14th Philippines–India Joint Working Group on Trade and Investment (JWGTI), which serves as the primary bilateral platform for discussing trade and investment issues and identifying new avenues for economic cooperation between the two countries.
Also taken up were follow-up actions arising from President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.’s official state visit to India in August 2025.
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The meeting on June 5 in Makati City was co-chaired by Philippine Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) undersecretary for International Trade Allan Gepty and Indian joint secretary Amit Verma of the Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, according to a statement by the DTI Bureau of International Trade Relations (BITR).
Discussions covered participation in each other’s trade fairs and exhibits, customs cooperation, renewable energy, information and communications technology, information technology-business process management, artificial intelligence, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, film, and other areas of mutual interest.
The two countries likewise discussed measures to facilitate trade, address market access concerns, and strengthen business-to-business linkages, underscoring their shared objective of fostering a more dynamic and mutually beneficial strategic partnership.
To take forward the growing economic engagement between the two countries, the Philippines and India also exchanged views on the negotiations of the Philippines–India PTA, taking into account the progress in the review of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-India Trade in Goods Agreement.
The two nations recognized the potential of a PTA to further expand trade and investment opportunities and agreed to continue discussions on the subsequent steps to commence the negotiations.
DTI-BITR said the meeting concluded on a positive note, with both sides expressing confidence in the continued growth of Philippines–India economic relations and reaffirming their commitment to sustained engagement through the JWGTI mechanism.
