MANILA, Philippines -- Members of the different foreign chambers of commerce in the Philippines plan to offer at least 3,000 jobs and some 500 internship slots in an employment expo they plan to hold this October.

In a statement, the American, Australian, New Zealand, British, Canadian, and European chambers of commerce said they have signed a memorandum of understanding with the Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities (Pacu) to ?initially provide priority access to deserving and qualified college students in its October Foreign Chambers Employment Expo.?

The jobs to be offered will range from the technical to executive positions, according to the foreign chambers.

According to Leslie Stokes, the executive director of the British Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, the partnership with Pacu, the umbrella organization of 180 leading educational institutions in the country, would speed up the process of eliminating the jobs-skills mismatch in the country.

?The partnership opens a lot of possibilities for the chambers and provides companies which we represent with a direct channel to the best available talent pool that can fit their respective operational needs,? Stokes said.

?We have always wanted to address the jobs-skills mismatch in the country. Partnering with Pacu is a big step towards attaining that goal,? Stokes added.

Newly elected Pacu president Peter Laurel said they were honored to have been considered by the five chambers as a partner in their activities to promote domestic employment.

?We expect this to be the start of a long-term partnership. Pacu is committed to actively participate in the employment expo. We are very much excited in the employment and internship programs available to our students and the academic linkages the agreement represents,? Laurel said.

Under the newly signed agreement, Pacu will send pre-screened students to the October employment expo.

The organization will likewise ensure that the most qualified graduating and third year college students nationwide will be coming to the employment expo to apply for internship programs and job vacancies among the participating companies.

Pacu is the oldest educational organization in the country and currently prioritizes industry linkages and improving the process of curricular reforms among colleges and universities.

Meanwhile, the five chambers announced that at least 40 companies have expressed interest in taking part in the next staging of the employment expo. The companies are in agribusiness, business process outsourcing, creative sector, infrastructure, energy, manufacturing and tourism industries, according to the chambers.