The United Kingdom and the Philippines on Tuesday, 23 September 2026, finalised a government-to-government (G2G) Partnership to strengthen bilateral trade cooperation on infrastructure, according to the UK government’s primary announcement from the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, UK Export Finance, and Lord Sarwar. UK Trade Minister Lord Anas Sarwar and Philippine Finance Secretary Federick Go signed the partnership that day. GMA News, citing a Department of Finance statement, also names UK Ambassador Sarah Hulton OBE among the signatories on the Philippine side of the ceremony account.
Under the deal, priority Philippine government infrastructure projects can be considered for support from UK Export Finance, the UK’s export credit agency. UKEF currently has up to £5 billion of capacity available for eligible projects in the Philippines, the gov.uk release states — framing a financing route and available capacity, not a single committed loan disbursement. GMA’s DOF-based account describes the same instrument as a £5 billion (about ₱419.9 billion) credit line / partnership that lets UKEF support priority projects Manila identifies. The gov.uk wording is the firmer one: capacity is available and projects can be considered, but no money has been drawn.
Sectors named for cooperation on the UK side include transport, clean energy, healthcare, water, digital infrastructure, and advanced technology. The Philippine DOF statement, as GMA reports it, lists potential areas including energy transition, sustainable transport, water and sanitation, aviation, and social infrastructure. The announcement presents the pact as putting the UK Government’s recently published Government-to-Government Strategy into action by creating a route for cooperation on project development, financing, and delivery. As the Philippines invests in national infrastructure, UK businesses are described as well placed to engage in priority projects. The DOF also places the partnership in the Philippines’ transition toward upper-middle-income status and notes that project talks have already begun through the Infrastructure Sectoral Working Group of the Philippines–UK Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO). UK membership in the Luzon Economic Corridor is cited by DOF as a further channel to combine financing, technical expertise, and private investment across Luzon connectivity, energy, digital infrastructure, and advanced manufacturing, GMA reported.
Lord Sarwar said the partnership delivers on the G2G Strategy and shows the UK “building modern trade relationships that will deliver tangible economic benefits — jobs and growth — both at home and abroad,” and that the G2G is “a route for the Philippines to access UK expertise, goods, services and financing; and for British businesses to partner with the Philippines and participate in future projects.” His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for Asia Pacific, Martin Kent, said the partnership reflects the strength of the UK–Philippines relationship and a shared ambition to deliver high-quality, sustainable infrastructure. Finance Secretary Go, per GMA, said the arrangement opens opportunities to bring financing, expertise, and partnership to projects that matter to Filipinos and must ultimately translate into jobs, stronger businesses, better infrastructure, and broader opportunities.
What to watch: which Philippine priority projects the JETCO infrastructure working group advances for UKEF consideration; how much of the stated £5 billion capacity is eventually offered or drawn; and which named sectors produce the first supported deals.
Floor: GOV.UK 23 Sep 2026 — UK–Philippines G2G Partnership signed by UK Trade Minister Lord Anas Sarwar and Philippine Finance Secretary Federick Go (GMA/DOF also name Amb. Sarah Hulton). Route for priority PH infrastructure projects to be considered for UK Export Finance support; UKEF up to £5 billion capacity available for eligible PH projects — capacity/route ≠ disbursed loans. Sectors: transport, clean energy, healthcare, water, digital, advanced tech (UK); energy transition, sustainable transport, water/sanitation, aviation, social infra (DOF/GMA). JETCO Infrastructure SWG talks underway. Primary gov.uk + GMA/DOF 23 Sep.