25 March 2026 – The Makati Business Club (MBC), along with the Embassy of Ukraine to the Philippines, and the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP), organized a closed-door roundtable discussion about Ukraine’s agricultural market and potential Philippine trade access in the dairy, poultry, and logistics industries.

This roundtable was held in conjunction with the official visit of the State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumer Protection (SSUFSCP) to Manila, a central executive body under the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine, responsible for implementing and enforcing food security regulations to strengthen food security frameworks and practices.

“The Philippines is not simply an export destination. We see this country as a vital economic partner and as an important gateway to Southeast Asia. For this reason, we are especially interested in building partnerships,” said H.E. Yuliia Fediv, Ambassador of Ukraine to the Philippines. In support of this, the Embassy’s First Secretary Oleksandr Lysak emphasized that bringing businesses closer together would be the first step towards a more balanced trade exchange between the Philippines and Ukraine.

In her presentation, Adviser to the Head of SSUFSCP Ms. Oksana Osmachko highlighted Ukraine’s export potential in its agricultural produce. The state of their milk, pork, grain, fruit and vegetable markets, which are Ukraine’s biggest produce markets, was among the areas mentioned. Insights from the High-Value Crops Chair of ECCP Agriculture, Julius Barcelona, added enrichment to the discussion, giving depth and context of Philippine agriculture to Ukrainian counterparts. This event was moderated by MBC Executive Director Apa Ongpin.

This roundtable discussion forms part of Ukraine’s initiative towards its path to the EU Single Market. The session provided an opportunity for continued engagement between Ukrainian and Philippine businesses to better understand each other’s needs, expectations, and priorities, while fostering a long-term, viable partnership.

This event is under MBC’s Global Partnerships and Engagements, which aim to facilitate platforms for meaningful discussions on trade, investments, social and geopolitical developments, and emerging challenges. This is integral to MBC’s mission of creating an environment for more jobs and better lives for Filipinos.