Official political ties started with the establishment of diplomatic relations by the Federal Republic of Germany in 1954, after the Philippines had gained independence in 1946; the German Democratic Republic established diplomatic relations with the Philippines in 1973.

Since the end of the Marcos dictatorship in 1986, the Philippines has become more and more important for German companies. Among the EU member states, Germany is the Philippines’ most important trade and investment partner.

For some years now, Filipino carers have been recruited to work in Germany.

As the Philippines is one of the countries most affected by global warming and its repercussions, climate change adaptation is one focal point of the diverse bilateral development cooperation with the country.

German traders were active in the Philippines as far back as the 1880s, thus making people aware of Germany. The German Club Manila, which was founded in 1906, the German European School Manila, the Goethe-Institut, a German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) lector, the German-Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), as well as representatives of five of Germany’s political foundations, ensure that Germany retains a high profile in the country today.