By Monsi A. Serrano
A Romanian artificial intelligence (AI) firm has chosen the Philippines as its first expansion hub in Southeast Asia, signaling growing investor confidence in the country while reinforcing deepening economic and diplomatic ties between Europe and the Philippines.
From left, Her Excellency Romanian Ambassador to the Philippines Răduța Dana Matache, Romanian investor and RepsMate CEO Alin Rosca, Albert Perez, European Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines’ Treasurer and Director, and European Union Ambassador Massimo Santoro, formalized a partnership during a signing ceremony at the Embassy of Romania in Ambassador’s Residence marking the entry of a Romanian artificial intelligence firm into the Philippine market and strengthening EU–Philippines cooperation in digital innovation. (PHOTO BY MONSI A. SERRANO)
The investment was formalized during a partnership signing ceremony hosted by the Embassy of Romania in the Philippines, bringing together European diplomats, business leaders, and technology stakeholders.
Romanian Ambassador to the Philippines Răduța Dana Matache welcomed the development, describing it as a milestone in bilateral cooperation and expressing optimism over the company’s decision to prioritize the Philippines over other Southeast Asian markets.
“This is the first such ceremony I have hosted in my four years in the Philippines, and I hope it will not be the last,” Matache said, noting that the technology being introduced aligns with the country’s current needs.
The partnership, facilitated by the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP), designates the Romanian firm as an official AI partner, aimed at accelerating digital transformation and enabling smarter, data-driven business decisions among local enterprises.
Meanwhile, European Union Ambassador Massimo Santoro underscored the importance of partnerships built on trust and shared purpose, noting the Philippines’ growing value as a strategic partner in the region.
“It starts with people and trust,” the EU Head of Delegation said, affirming continued engagement between the EU and the Philippines across sectors, including technology and security.
Representing the European Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines, Albert Perez, ECCP Treasurer and Director, expressed gratitude and pride for the new investment in the Philippines.
He noted that this will help bridge European innovation with the Philippine market, creating opportunities for businesses to leverage advanced AI-powered platforms for workforce intelligence and operational efficiency.
For his part, Romanian investor and CEO Alin Rosca highlighted the RepsMate’s long-term commitment to the Philippines, emphasizing a human-centered approach to AI that complements, rather than replaces, the workforce.
“We believe in local power. We believe in building value within the industry,” Roshka said, adding that the company also plans to roll out corporate social responsibility initiatives alongside its business expansion.
The move comes amid increasing global demand for AI-driven solutions and positions the Philippines as an emerging destination for high-value technology investments, while further strengthening Europe’s footprint in the country’s digital economy.