THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is wooing Singaporean companies seeking expansion and supply chain resilience across Southeast Asia, positioning the Philippines as a regional production and services hub.
At a recent networking session, Trade Secretary Cristina Roque told Singapore Business Federation (SBF) leaders: “[We] offer a strong base for serving both our domestic market and the wider Asean region,” Roque said, citing the Philippines’ young, skilled workforce, growing digital capabilities and strategically located economic zones.
The DTI flagged New Clark City and other Luzon economic corridors as ideal sites for semiconductors, advanced manufacturing, digital infrastructure, clean energy, logistics and other tech-driven industries.
Roque said the Philippines can support businesses at every stage of expansion — from site selection and local partnerships to registration, permits, workforce needs and incentives.
SBF leaders sought more details on the Asean Digital Economy Framework Agreement and pushed for additional mission trips and bilateral engagements.
Roque welcomed SBF’s planned business mission to the Philippines this year, which will cover manufacturing, food and beverage, agritech, business process outsourcing, digital services, talent development and retail.
She likewise mentioned the Philippines’ 2026 Asean chairship as an opportunity to deepen regional business ties and advance its Prosperity Corridors agenda, which focuses on micro, small and medium enterprises support, digital economy expansion and creative industries.
The networking session, held with SBF’s Southeast Asia Business Group (SEABG), aimed to identify Singaporean firms eyeing expansion and present the Philippines as a diversification destination.
Attendees included SBF chairman Mark Lee and CEO Kok Ping Soon, SEABG chairman Yong Hsin Yue (who is also managing director of Kuok [Singapore] Ltd., part of the Kuok Group behind Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, which has a sizable hospitality and retail presence in the Philippines), SEABG vice chairpersons Prasoon Mukherjee and Lenny Lim, and DTI Singapore commercial counselor Carla Grepo.
“This engagement is an important first step. We want to connect [Singaporean] companies with the right Philippine partners and turn their interest into investments that generate quality jobs, transfer technology and create more opportunities for Filipino enterprises,” Roque said.
