• Provide an enabling environment for trade and investment by streamlining business regulations, boosting productivity and competitiveness, promoting greater utilisation of the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA), and ensuring frequent government dialogue to address trade and investment concerns.
• Share Australian experience to assist the Philippine Government deliver on its major infrastructure agenda and assist in post-typhoon recovery and reconstruction.
• Build on strong co-operation in agriculture and market access that has yielded improved import protocols for Philippine mangoes and Australian fresh fruit, and better opportunities for farmers.
• Continue Australia’s support for the Philippines’ development of its Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) framework to further ensure that the supply of qualified skilled workers meets industry needs.
• Explore the viability of a Senior Officials’ Trade and Investment Dialogue to review progress in supporting growth in the bilateral commercial relationship.
• Australian experience to support the development of responsible mining in the Philippines.

Development co-operation
The Secretaries and Ministers recognised the importance of development cooperation between the two countries and reaffirmed their commitment to pursue shared national interests of greater economic growth, stability and security for the region.

The Philippines expressed deep appreciation for Australia’s immediate response and early recovery to the Philippines in the aftermath of Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan), with the extension of over AU$100 million to date in aid, including the provision of an Australian medical team, and the deployment of Australian Defence Force personnel and equipment.

The Secretaries and Ministers agreed to:

• Confirm Australian aid to the Philippines at AU$170 million in 2013-14, in recognition of the serious recovery and reconstruction challenges following Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan).