25 August 2022, CANBERRA – Over 40 business delegates from across Australia representing the sectors of renewable energy, manufacturing, mining, tourism, property development, agribusiness, banking and finance, education to IT-BPM visited Manila, Clark and Subic and engaged in meetings with special economic zones and Philippine business on 15 to 19 August 2022. The governments of South Australia and Victoria were also represented with the participation of the Hon Zoe Bettison MP, Minister for Tourism and Multicultural Affairs of South Australia, and Ms. Rebeca Hall, Victorian Commissioner to Southeast Asia.

Philippine Ambassador to Australia Ma. Hellen B. De La Vega led the business delegation and introduced them to Philippine government officials including Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Undersecretary Rafaelita Aldaba, Subic-Clark Alliance Development Chairman Edgardo Pamintuan, Bataan Governor Jose Enrique Garcia III and officials of the Department of Agriculture, Department of Energy, Board of Investments, Philippine Economic Zone Authority, Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority, Board of Investments, Clark Development Corporation and Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, among others. The delegates toured the economic zones in the Clark-Bataan-Subic corridor and met Australian locators. The Australian locators have been doing business in the Philippines for the last ten years and continue to grow and expand their business.

The DTI and PEZA gave a briefing on doing business in the Philippines and arranged business to business meetings for the delegates. The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration led a session on recruitment of skilled workers from the Philippines in response to the request of many businesses in Australia to hire more workers from the country to address skills shortage.

Some members of the delegation mentioned that it is their first time in the Philippines and they are thankful for the opportunity to directly experience the developments in the country and learn about the game-changing policy and infrastructure reforms recently instituted to strengthen the enabling environment for business to thrive.

The business mission was organized by the Philippine Trade and Investment Centre – Sydney (PTIC-Sydney) led by Special Trade Representative Alma Argayoso. Australian businesses that wish to pursue opportunities in the Philippines may get in touch with PTIC-Sydney through Sydney@dti.gov.ph. – END