US commerce chief leads 22-firm mission to PH

MANILA, Philippines  — Representatives from 22 American companies have expressed keen interest in starting new investments in the Philippines, Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual said on Friday, previewing possible prospects from a United States trade mission that will arrive next week.

Pascual said the mission is composed of a mix of US firms that are already present in the Philippines as well as those that have yet to set up local operations.

“The idea is to do networking with our local business people and get them to matchmaking meetings,” the trade chief told reporters during a roundtable discussion in Makati.

READ: Biden to send top-level trade mission to PH in March

Pascual said US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo will be leading the business delegation.

Business matching

He said the US companies include GreenFire Energy, Google Asia Pacific, Black & Veatch, Visa, President’s Export Council, EchoStar, Innovation Force, United Airlines, United Parcel Service, Boston Consulting Group, global investment firm KKR Asia Pacific, feed and fuels company Marquis, Sol-Go, Capital One and the US-Asean Business Council.

READ: Top American CEOs to join PH trade mission in March

Also included are Bechtel, Apl.de.Ap Foundation International, FedEx, Mastercard, Microsoft, Ultrapass ID and Ultra Safe Nuclear.

“We expect deals to be signed but we don’t have the specifics because that will be done company-to-company, private sector arrangements,” Pascual said further.

According to the US Embassy in Manila, Raimondo will be in the country from March 11 to March 12 to lead the trade and investment mission.

The embassy said the trade mission aims to reaffirm the strong commitment of the United States to deepen trade and investment ties with the Philippines, as well as to reinforce the Philippines as a key hub for regional supply chains and high-quality investment in support of Washington’s Indo-Pacific strategy.