Philippine financial inclusion efforts get a boost from Queen Maxima

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. meets with H.M. Queen Máxima of the Netherlands, United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development, during a courtesy call in Malacañang Palace in Manila on Wed, May 22, 2024. (PPA POOL / Noel B. Pabalate)

MANILA, Philippines — Queen Máxima of the Netherlands offered to support financial health and inclusion efforts in the Philippines, the Palace said on Thursday.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. welcomed the Queen to Malacañan Palace on Wednesday, who went to the Philippines in her capacity as the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development (UNSGSA).

According to the Palace, the Queen’s support focuses on promoting key elements essential for financial inclusion such as connectivity, cybersecurity, digitization, and interoperable payments.

focused on promoting key elements essential for financial inclusion such as connectivity, digital identification, and digital payments

Queen Maxima of the Netherlands

“Well, that’s a very, very handsome offer. Thank you very much, Your Majesty,” Marcos told Queen Máxima.

READ: Queen Maxima puts royal touch to financial inclusion campaign 

The Dutch queen is in the Philippines from May 21 to 23 as part of her UNSGSA duties to promote financial inclusion and financial health.

This is her second visit to the Philippines. Her first visit was in 2015, when she went to the launch of the Philippines’ National Strategy for Financial Inclusion.