Ukraine eyes deeper trade ties with the Philippines

By Chloe Mari A. Hufana, Reporter

UKRAINE is moving to deepen trade and investment ties with the Philippines, with proposals for formal agreements in agriculture, technology and cybersecurity as Kyiv seeks new partners in Asia despite the ongoing war with Russia.

Ukrainian Ambassador to the Philippines Yuliia Fediv said a draft memorandum of understanding (MoU) creating a joint commission on trade, investment and scientific cooperation has been sent to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

A similar proposal was transmitted to the Department of Agriculture (DA). A high-level Ukrainian delegation is expected to visit Manila this October, she added.

“The Ukrainian government has already sent the draft MoU on the creation of a joint commission on trade, investment and scientific technical cooperation,” Ms. Fediv said at a forum on Aug. 30. “It was sent by our Ministry of Economic, Ecology, and Agriculture to your Department of Trade and Investment. So, we just wait for the official answer… Hopefully, we can [already sign] this agreement on creating a joint commission.”

Trade between the Philippines and Ukraine remains modest but has shown potential. In 2022, Ukraine ranked as the Philippines’ 90^th largest trading partner, 119^th as an export market and 76^th as a source of imports, according to the Presidential Communications Office.

Total trade reached $16.9 million, with Philippine exports worth $1.49 million and imports worth $15.41 million. Top Ukrainian exports include meat, wheat and eggs.

Beyond agriculture, Ms. Fediv said Kyiv is keen to pursue cooperation in electronics, high-tech, military and financial technologies, pharmaceuticals, culture, fashion and publishing. She urged Philippine businesses, universities and associations to work with government agencies to cut red tape and accelerate collaboration.

She also highlighted the difficulty of certification during wartime but noted that Ukraine has developed digital tools such as remote certification via Zoom, already recognized in Japan and South Korea. “Just to have less red tape in order to start this and also take into consideration that we are open to welcome you on the territory of Ukraine and secure your security,” she said.

Ms. Fediv said Kyiv views Manila as a potential hub for engaging with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), particularly as the Philippines prepares to head the bloc next year.

She cited Manila’s support for Kyiv in international forums like the United Nations (UN), while reiterating Ukraine’s backing for the Philippines’ bid for a nonpermanent seat in the UN Security Council for 2027-2028.

“We are open to [going] with you and to see you as a hub for the whole ASEAN country, as we want to become a sectoral dialogue partner in food security in 2026,” she said. “Hopefully, the Philippines will be leading ASEAN, as not so many other ASEAN countries are pro-Ukrainian, rather pro-Russian or pro-China.”

“It’s a long way to go, but we also rely on you because you are a leader in the region, and you are one of the creators of ASEAN. So just be helpful, and we will reciprocally be helpful to you,” she added.

Despite what she described as a “state of war,” Ms. Fediv said Ukraine has launched at least three online platforms — CodeUA, Nazovni, and Rebuild Ukraine — to allow foreign firms to continue doing business.

CodeUA serves as a hub for Ukraine’s IT sector, while Rebuild Ukraine showcases recovery projects where global companies can invest. Nazovni functions as a networking tool, letting foreign companies create profiles and connect directly with Ukrainian partners.

“It’s like an online meeting point for Ukrainian and Filipino businesses to connect and build digital ties,” Ms. Fediv said, expressing hope that these links would lead to real-world partnerships.

Diplomacy lecturer Josue Raphael J. Cortez of De La Salle-College of St. Benilde said Ukraine’s outreach reflects its strategy to diversify partners amid global volatility and its war with Russia.

“Although in terms of our roster of partners, Ukraine is not among our top partners in trade, this does not mean that such deepening will not have any value on the part of our two countries,” he said in a Facebook Messenger chat. “Instead, this may be well-aligned with our respective economic interests today.”

He added that stronger ties could benefit both countries: Ukraine could supply agricultural products such as wheat and dairy, while the Philippines could expand exports in semiconductors and other goods.

For Kyiv, the move underscores an effort to offset Russia’s attempts at isolating it. For Manila, it offers an opportunity to diversify trade and strengthen engagement with a partner navigating global conflict.