THE British Chamber of Commerce Philippines (BCCP) has set the return of the “Great British Festival” in October, which will underscore consular ties between the United Kingdom and the Philippines, as well as the celebration of their day of amity.

“[The festival] will now be on the 19th and 20th of October, actually coinciding with Philippine-UK Friendship Day,” Executive Director and Trustee Chris Nelson of BCCP declared in an interview. “Last year we had over 50,000 visitors [and 38 participating companies, working closely with the British Embassy, as well as its business and trade section. We anticipate it to grow] even more.”

Initially launched in 2014, the British Chamber commemorated the return of the Great British Festival last year, following its hiatus in 2019 because of the Covid-19 pandemic. The festival accommodated the same number of British companies across diverse sectors such as finance, food and beverage, retail, auto shows, general business, and education.

In collaboration with the British Embassy in Manila and the British Council, the Great British Festival will emphasize the cultural, economic, and business ties of the two countries. Last year’s event theme highlighted innovation, culture, and the arts, as it showcased various performances by artists, bands, with participation of multiple firms.

Nelson commended the efforts and work of the British Council’s Lotus Postrado, who runs the British Council: “[She] is actually an ex-officio member, and we look forward to working with them on the festival.”

BCCP pursues multiple efforts that bolster overall bilateral relations for the 2024 Great British Festival. The growing relations between the Philippines and the UK became evident with a total trade value of £2.8 billion in goods and services by the end of the fourth quarter of 2023. The former ranks as the UK’s 59th-largest trading partner.

The chamber also remains dedicated to supporting local-based small and medium enterprises from the UK, and advocates for the interests of the British business community in the country.

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