The Great British Festival 2024 highlights growing partnership between PH, UK

The Great British Festival 2024, organized by the British Embassy Manila, the British Chamber of Commerce Philippines (BCCP), and the British Council Philippines, successfully mounted a two-day fair highlighting the growing diplomatic, cultural, and trade relations between the Philippines and the United Kingdom.

Held in October in Bonifacio Global City, the Great British Festival 2024, coinciding with the UK-Philippine Friendship Day, saw a nearly 50% increase in participating companies from various major UK and local companies in different sectors, including automotive, food & beverage, financial services, retail, and health and fitness, among others.

The event, with a theme centered around British literature, also showcased the rich cultural and artistic influences with engaging activities such as storytelling sessions, a fancy dress contest, a pub quiz, a scavenger hunt, an improv show, cultural performances, and West End musicals.

Gracing the event were BCCP executive director/trustee Chris Nelson, UK ambassador to the Philippines Laure Beaufils, and British Embassy Manila deputy ambassador Alistair White.

In a statement sent to GMA News Online, Nelson expressed his gratitude for the festival's "great success."

"This will not be possible without the support of those who attended, the companies that participated, to which we have seen a significant increase than last year," the BCCP executive director said.

"We have so much in common. We really are so like-minded," Beaufils said in the "Unang Balita" interview about UK-Philippine relations.

"We share our values. We have a lot of young people who are talented, innovative, and creative, and there's so much that we can and are doing together," she added.