UK-based SMEs eye Philippines for expansion

Small- and medium-sized enterprises from the United Kingdom are considering expanding their operations to the Philippines, which is seen as an emerging market and a prospective trade and investment partner.

In a trade mission to the Philippines, seven high level representatives of these UK firms discussed investment prospects in the country with officials of the Department of Trade and Industry, the Philippine Economic Zone Authority, Philippine Chamber of Commerce Industry (PCCI), British Chamber of Commerce Philippines (BCCP), Bases Conversion and Development Authority and members of the House Trade Committee.

The British Embassy in Manila identified the visiting companies as Segro Plc, property investment and development company; South-East Asia Consultancy; Hairbyus.com, a fast-growing Internet business designed to put the public in touch with competent and qualified local hairstylists; Martyn Skinner Consulting Services (MSCS), which seeks to develop additional contacts in the agribusiness sector; Indo British Consulting (IBC), an exclusive boutique management consultancy; Viadex, which specializes in IT Infrastructure; and J+S Ltd., which provides engineering solutions and in-service support across the defense and offshore energy sectors.

The said trade mission was the first UK mission organized by the British Chamber’s British Business Center, a project funded by the UK government to help UK SMEs expand their business in emerging markets like the Philippines.

“We are delighted to organize the Trade Mission of PBBC as part of our commitment to support UK SMEs to export to the Philippines,” said Chris Boughton, general manager of the British Chamber of Commerce Philippines.

Trade Undersecretary Adrian S. Cristobal Jr., for his part, noted that the UK was an important trading partner of the Philippines.

“We welcomed almost 38 UK trade missions in the past two years. The UK is now the Philippines’ 12th largest source of investment,” Cristobal said.

In the meantime, Peza Director General Lilia B. De Lima encouraged the delegates to continue doing business in the Philippines, as she presented the different business opportunities in the country’s 308 economic zones, particularly in industrial and export processing, information technology, tourism and agriculture.