PH eyes trade and labor opportunities in Canadian province of Alberta

The Philippines is exploring trade, investment and labor opportunities in the Canadian province of Alberta as part of Manila's strategy of further expanding ties with Canada.

In his recent working visit to Alberta, Philippine Ambassador Jose Victor Chan-Gonzaga met with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith at the Alberta Legislature Building in Edmonton, highlighting his first official visit to the province.

He also held talks with Alberta Minister of Jobs, Economy, Trade, and Immigration Joseph Schow to discuss opportunities for enhanced economic trade, and workforce collaboration.

"There is a lot of complementarity between our two economies. We can collaborate on emerging as well as advanced technologies, including in artificial intelligence, energy, and even defense applications,” Chan-Gonzaga said.

Chan-Gonzaga said both sides are considering possible partnerships to address skilled labor shortages in Alberta and foster investments in critical sectors such as energy, infrastructure, and digital technologies.

Discussions with the two officials also covered possible enhanced cooperation in post-secondary education, including linkages between Philippine and Alberta institutions, as well as the prospect of direct flights as potential destinations to boost tourism, business, and people-to-people exchanges.

On energy, they explored opportunities on energy storage facilities and sustainable infrastructure. Cooperation in agriculture and agri-food development was likewise identified as a potential area for mutually beneficial engagement.

Chan-Gonzaga invited Premier Smith to visit the Philippines to further strengthen Alberta’s engagement with the country.

“As I emphasized to the Premier, there is a moment to be seized today by both the Philippines and Alberta towards achieving our respective trade, economic, and investment objectives," the envoy said.

“I am confident that we can create a robust and strong economic partnership, underpinned by the second largest Filipino community in Canada that can be found in Alberta,” he added.

Alberta is home to over 200,000 Filipinos who make significant contributions in province’s healthcare, energy and business sectors.

Chan-Gonzaga expressed appreciation for Alberta’s continued support for Filipino professionals, particularly through streamlined credential recognition processes and the Memorandum of Understanding on the recruitment of Filipino nurses. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News