Mr. Andreas Carlson, Minister for Infrastructure and Housing; His Excellency Harald Fries, Swedish Ambassador to the Philippines; Mr. Marcus Wallenberg, Chair of the Board of Directors of SEB; representatives from the Department of Foreign Affairs; guests; and fellow government workers: good afternoon.

Let me start by thanking the Government of the Kingdom of Sweden and its people for being a reliable ally of the Philippines.

For over eight decades, our two nations have not only become friends but strong partners in our shared goal of achieving peace, security, and prosperity for both Filipinos and the Swedish people.

Last year, we took our nations’ friendship further by signing a landmark agreement that will safeguard the Philippines’ national security.

And today, I am proud to take our collaboration to the next level. We entered another agreement that will enhance the economic security of Filipinos through increased access to Swedish financing for our development initiatives.

With this partnership, the Philippines will have a greater opportunity to invest in more projects that matter most to our people.

The high-impact sectors covered by this agreement—where Sweden has a comparative advantage—are sustainable infrastructure development, public transportation, renewable energy, water and waste management, and many more.

We will also gain access to the world-class expertise, technical know-how, and innovative solutions of the Swedfund International AB and the Swedish Export Credit Corporation. This will ensure the long-term sustainability and success of the projects we undertake.

All these will help us transition into a greener, healthier, and more sustainable future for our people.

And these projects complement Sweden’s ongoing support to enhance the welfare and global competitiveness of Filipinos through partnerships in cancer care, defense, and digitalization.

Moreover, the presence of some 40 major Swedish companies in the Philippines, including the iconic IKEA—which has its largest store in our country—is a powerful testament to the confidence Sweden holds in our nation and our people.

With this broad range of development areas, Sweden is certainly one of the Philippines’ strongest poverty-fighting allies, helping us build an inclusive economy for our citizens.

On the Department of Finance’s part, we assure you of the efficient implementation of this newly signed agreement. We will see to it that all relevant agencies will be fully compliant with the processes and protocols agreed upon.

I am eager to see the concrete outcomes of this cooperation very soon and look forward to all that we can achieve together in the years ahead.

Once again, thank you for your support and investments in the future of the Filipino nation. Mabuhay po kayo, at mabuhay ang Bagong Pilipinas!