FRANCE celebrates Bastille Day today. On July 14, 1789, the people of Paris rebelled and seized the royal fortress of Bastille. This event led to the historic French Revolution that inspired popular struggles for freedom in many other countries all over the world.
The Philippines has close cultural and economic relations with France, which is one of our most important trading partners. In 2001, the Third Philippines-France Political Consultations were held in Paris, while the Fifth Philippines-France Joint Economic Commission was held in Manila. Some of the issues discussed in the joint economic commission were bilateral trade and investments, financial cooperation, and market access.
The main exports of France to the Philippines are electronic products. There are about 100 French companies, including Total, which has opened a number of petroleum stations in the Philippines; LaFarge, which is known for cement production; Aventis Pharma and Aventis Pasteur, L’Oreal, Rhone Poulenc; and Vivendia noted water treatment company. New French companies which have decided to invest in the Philippines are Ondeo, Egis, Alstom, and AirLiquide.
On May, 2006, the Philippines assumed the chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Paris Committee (APC), with the objective of strengthening the collective presence of ASEAN in the largest country in Western Europe by cultivating not only high-level contacts with the French government but also with the French general public. Ambassador Jose A. Zaide of the Philippine Embassy in France led a trip to Bordeaux, southwest of France. Bordeaux hardly needs introduction as the home of the greatest red wine appellations in the world. An important segment of the trip was an exploration of commercial opportunities by way of a visit to Eurasie, an Asian hypermarket operating in Bordeaux. In enhancing their trade ties with France, ASEAN trade missions are relaxing their concentration on the Paris region and are examining ways and means of penetrating the other commercial centers throughout the country. Year 2007 will be the 60th anniversary of PhilippinesFrance diplomatic relations.
We congratulate the government and people of France led by President Jacques Chirac and its Embassy in the Philippines headed by H.E., Ambassador Gerard Chesnel, on the occasion of Bastille Day.
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