The United Kingdom has launched the ASEAN-UK TradeTech Lookbook in Manila, positioning it as a practical guide to help governments and businesses across Southeast Asia modernize trade through technology, while strengthening its growing digital partnership with the Philippines.
The launch, held during the UK–Southeast Asia Tech Week 2026 on February 9–10, highlighted the Philippines’ rising role in the region’s digital transformation and marked a new strategic partnership between the British Embassy in Manila and the AI and Analytics Association of the Philippines.
The Lookbook is designed as a tool for policymakers, companies, and institutions seeking solutions to support ASEAN’s push toward an integrated, digital-first economy — a shift widely seen as one of the region’s most significant economic opportunities as cross-border trade increasingly relies on data, analytics, and secure digital infrastructure.
Alongside the launch, the new partnership with the AI and Analytics Association of the Philippines aims to promote the responsible, inclusive, and trustworthy adoption of artificial intelligence and analytics. The collaboration will provide a platform for sharing best practices and strengthening innovation ecosystems between the two countries.
Rhiannon Harries, Deputy Trade Commissioner for Asia Pacific (Southeast Asia), underscored the strategic importance of digital cooperation in the region.
“Southeast Asia has a bold vision for a digital and data-driven economy, and the UK is well-placed to support this. The 10 UK companies participating in this year’s Tech Week represent our $1.2 trillion technology sector – they provide the compute, insight, and security needed to support the region’s digital ambitions. We are excited to work more closely with the Philippines as ASEAN Chair in the UK’s 5th year of being Dialogue Partner.”
British Ambassador to the Philippines Sarah Hulton OBE emphasized that practical collaboration is at the heart of the initiative.
“UK-Southeast Asia Tech week puts practical collaboration at the center, linking the region’s priorities in digital innovation and financial services with proven UK expertise.”
“Here in the Philippines, the growing footprint of UK tech firms, from digital identity to cybersecurity capability, shows how partnerships deliver outcomes that strengthen both our country’s digital economies. We look forward to working closer together especially as we celebrate 80 years of UK-Philippines diplomatic relations and the UK’s 5th year as an ASEAN Dialogue Partner,” she added.
The two-day Tech Week gathering brought a delegation of 10 UK companies specializing in artificial intelligence, data centers, and cybersecurity to Manila, where they met with Philippine tech firms, policymakers, and investors to explore collaboration.
The event featured a technology showcase led by companies such as Arup, iProov, and UnionDigital Bank, demonstrating innovations ranging from cybersecurity solutions to digital twins. Panel discussions on artificial intelligence and cybersecurity explored emerging threats, trends, and the growing need for cross-border cooperation in protecting digital systems.
Minette Navarrete, Managing Partner and President of Kickstart Ventures, highlighted the importance of collaboration in navigating today’s rapidly evolving global environment.
“The antidote to an increasingly VUCA (volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous) and BANI (brittle, anxious, non-linear, and incomprehensible) world is partnerships that are BRAVE–Borderless, Relational, Adaptable, Values-aligned, and deeply rooted in strong Ecosystems,” she said.
The UK and the Philippines already maintain a growing network of technology collaborations. UK firm iProov is working with UnionDigital Bank to strengthen digital trust and security in financial services, while CyberQ Group has partnered with a Philippine technology solutions provider to expand cybersecurity capabilities.
In the fintech space, UK unicorns Wise and Revolut are expanding their presence in the country, with Revolut opening a Global Tech Hub in the Philippines. Meanwhile, the Philippine Space Agency is working with Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd on the Multispectral Unit for Land Assessment (MULA) satellite, designed to support agriculture monitoring, disaster response, and maritime tracking.
Collectively, the UK companies participating in Tech Week employ more than 30,000 people worldwide and represent a combined valuation exceeding £100 billion, reflecting the scale of the UK’s technology sector engagement with the region.
UK–Southeast Asia Tech Week is the UK Government’s flagship science and innovation event, with this year’s program spanning Singapore, Manila, and Kuala Lumpur. For the Philippines, the launch of the TradeTech Lookbook and the new AI partnership signal a deeper alignment with global digital trends, at a time when regional economies are racing to build more secure, data-driven, and interconnected trade systems.