British Chamber highlights 2024 achievements, sets priorities for 2025

The British Chamber of Commerce Philippines proudly ended the year on a positive note, outlining its key achievements, particularly on the signing of the priority bills such as the  Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act and the Anti-Financial Account Scamming Act along with its other initiatives on managing inflation, food security, and further promoting the country as an investment destination for British investors. 

The agricultural sector has been identified previously by the Marcos administration as a key driver of the economy.

The UK has played a significant role in promoting British pork and beef in the market, with meat and meat preparations being the 2nd top exported goods to the Philippines amounting to £39.1 million.

BCCP Executive Director/Trustee Chris Nelson said in an interview that the extension of lowered tariffs until 2028 will assist in further increasing the meat trade figures, also noting the recent lifting of the ban on beef and poultry. 

It has also emphasized on the consistent work with the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) through various annual market briefings, B2B, market visits, and establishing close relations with the Department of Agriculture, Department of Trade and Industry, Bureau of Customs, Meat Importers and Traders Association (MITA) and other local retailers. 

Similarly, the support towards the Anti-Financial Account Scamming Act aligned with the Chamber’s advocacy on cybersecurity.

It has reiterated the UK’s cybersecurity and digital excellence that the Philippines could potentially explore in achieving its goal of further strengthening its cybersecurity posture, leveraging the investor confidence in the country. 

Other key priority measures for 2025 include the passage of the Cybersecurity Act, which was previously endorsed by the Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC) Digital Infrastructure Group in 2023 and is also endorsed by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and hopes for its passage in the next Congress.

Digitalization remains part of the Chamber’s 2025 agenda by supporting the passage of the  E-Governance Act, aligned with its advocacy as an ARTA Champion in reducing red tape and bureaucracies in the country.

The Open Access in Data Transmission Act is also part of its objectives for 2025, to further strengthen the internet infrastructure to establish a competitive telecommunications sector that also attracts foreign investors. 

Nelson further noted that, “We, at the British Chamber, along with other business groups, would openly welcome and wish to see further liberalization.

In that context, you are competing with other countries and therefore, we have to be on the same level in driving ways forward in terms of opening up the economy and making the Philippines an investment destination in Southeast Asia.”