“In the Philippines, roughly two-thirds of SMEs are women-owned. In Canada, women entrepreneurs are among the fastest-growing segment of our economy. That is an enormous amount of economic potential looking for room to grow. Part of my job, as Canada’s Minister of Women and Gender Equality, is to make sure that as we are creating new opportunities through new trade agreements, women are fully benefiting and participating,” said Minister Rechie, who is also the first Filipino-Canadian woman to be elected as a Member of Parliament.

The two ministers sat beside Ms. Riza Mantaring, MBC Trustee and former CEO of Sun Life, for a fireside chat. Key topics discussed were trade diversification, tariffs, energy,  critical minerals, Luzon Economic Corridor, women in the business community, and the Filipino diaspora. Other areas where the PH-Canada relationship is being deepened are infrastructure, clean energy, digital innovation, manufacturing, agriculture, SMEs, and women in the C-suite. 

This is the first time that MBC hosted two economic ministers in the same session. Ms. Cosette Canilao, MBC Trustee and CEO of Aboitiz InfraCapital, thanked the Canadian government for entrusting this meaningful engagement to MBC.