By THEPHILBIZNEWS STAFF
The British Chamber of Commerce Philippines (BCCP) has expressed strong support for the Philippines’ ambition to become a regional hub for smart manufacturing, citing it as a promising avenue for deeper UK–Philippines economic cooperation.
Aligned with the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy, this vision opens new opportunities to boost trade, innovation, and investment between the two countries.
BCCP Executive Vice Chair Chris Nelson underscored these prospects at the 6th installment of the Chamber’s Trade and Connect series, “Smart, Secure, and Strategic: Building the New Age of Philippine Manufacturing.” The event followed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s push to position the country as a smart manufacturing hub through digital transformation—aimed at enhancing productivity, efficiency, and global competitiveness.
“We are very pleased to have representatives from PEZA, BCDA, and one of our platinum members, PMFTC. This reinforces the Philippines’ capability to present itself as a regional hub for smart manufacturing,” Nelson said. “As I have discussed with PEZA Director General Panga, upskilling the workforce and enacting cybersecurity legislation are vital. We need secure companies, a competitive workforce, and the right environment to attract investment.”
The Chamber’s advocacy was also evident during the Philippine-British Investment Forum in London on 27 June 2025, hosted by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) in partnership with the BCCP. The forum showcased manufacturing opportunities in ecozones, which, as of December 2024, number 427 nationwide with 4,382 locator companies—79 of them in manufacturing.
Advanced manufacturing is identified as a priority sector, with strong growth potential in automotive and electric vehicles, pharmaceuticals and medical devices, aerospace, and electronics and semiconductors. PEZA is also pushing for enhanced fiscal incentives for Tier 3 projects in research and development, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and data centers, alongside workforce upskilling, localization, and promotion of Filipino talent globally.
These initiatives align closely with the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy, which prioritizes eight sectors: Advanced Manufacturing, Creative Industries, Life Sciences, Clean Energy, Defence, Digital and Technologies, Professional and Business Services, and Financial Services. The UK has committed £4.3 billion in funding and R&D, with £2.8 billion allocated over the next five years to drive innovation and digitization.
“We know the Philippine workforce is skilled, but we must elevate those skills to stay competitive. At the same time, we must make it easier for companies to set up and thrive here,” Nelson emphasized.
