More British firms expected to set up shop in Philippines

MANILA, Philippines - More British companies are expected to do business in the Philippines given opportunities in the infrastructure and retail sectors. 

United Kingdom’s (UK) Ambassador to the Philippines Asif Anwar Ahmad told reporters during the opening of the Great British Festival there is a steady flow of investments being made by British companies here. 

Given opportunities in the country, he said more British companies are seen to enter the Philippine market. 

To promote opportunities in the infrastructure sector here, the Philippine government through the Department of Trade and Industry and the Public Private Partnership Center are organizing a roadshow in the UK in June. 

“We are going to take government people, Philippine investors and contractors and British companies who are here and we’ll match them with the invited guests,” Ahmad said.

He said the aim is to have more companies participate in the upcoming roadshow and beat the previous one which had 250 big companies and 50 small and medium enterprises. 

In terms of the retail sector, he said more British brands are expected to come to the country given the strong consumption spending here. 

Among these British brands is coffee chain Costa Coffee which is set to open its first outlet in the country this year. 

Ahmad said other British brands are expected as supermarkets here are forging partnerships with UK retailers.  

“There are so many opportunities. This is an exciting market because the population is a spending population,” he said. 

In line with promoting greater ties between the UK and the Philippines, Ahmad said a member of the royal family is also set to visit the country this year.

“It will be over four days and it is multi-purpose, touching everything,” he said adding that more details will be given about the visit after the Great British Festival.

The Great British Festival aims to showcase the unique mix of creativity, innovation, culture, heritage and knowledge that spell Britain’s success in fashion, music, sports, education and design held at the Bonifacio Global City in Taguig City on Feb. 27 to March 1.