DTI courts Singapore investors for Philippine expansion

SINGAPORE — The Department of Trade and Industry is courting Singaporean manufacturers and business groups while facilitating Universal Success Enterprises Limited’s interest in Philippine logistics parks and data centers.

The campaign is part of a broader push to position the country as a regional production, services and supply-chain hub.

For Filipinos, the investment drive could create quality jobs, encourage technology transfer, strengthen digital infrastructure and open opportunities for local suppliers.

The DTI announcements, however, did not identify signed investment agreements, committed capital, project sites or employment targets resulting from the meetings.

Manufacturing investment pitch

Trade Secretary Cristina A. Roque presented the Philippines as an investment destination during a July 30 roundtable with Singapore Manufacturing Federation council members and industry leaders.

The DTI committed to connect the federation’s roughly 5,000-member network with Philippine investment opportunities in semiconductors, aerospace, food manufacturing and other industries.

“The Philippines is ready for the next wave of Singaporean investments. The reforms are in place, the incentives are on the table, and we have diverse ecozones readily available for manufacturers looking to set up or expand their operations. We invite SMF members to bring their capital, expertise, and technology to the Philippines,” Secretary Roque said.

The federation hosted the meeting at its recently launched Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Centre, led by SMF President Lennon Tan.

Participants included federation council officers and representatives of Adera Global, Beckhoff Automation, Food Empire Holdings, Fullerton Health, Win-Sin, YCH Group and Yusarn Audrey LLC.

The companies have business interests in the Philippines.

Roque urged federation members to consider the Philippines not merely as a consumer market, but as a production and delivery base for Southeast Asia.

She also promoted the country as an alternative production and sourcing location as companies restructure global supply chains.

The DTI said it would help prospective investors understand available incentives and provide on-the-ground assistance as they establish or expand operations.

Roque said the Philippines’ recent upgrade to upper-middle-income status could stimulate demand and investment in higher-value, innovation-intensive industries.

She identified advanced manufacturing, life sciences and health care as priority sectors.

“The Philippines is no longer competing on cost alone. We are building the talent, infrastructure, technology ecosystem and domestic market that innovation-driven companies need to grow across ASEAN,” she added.

Artificial intelligence and SME support

Singapore-based logistics and supply-chain company YCH Group, which already serves Philippine fast-moving consumer goods companies, discussed plans to invest in “superport/super park” models using artificial intelligence tools.

SME Centre@SMF Chairman David Chia presented a three-step process used to help micro, small and medium enterprises adopt artificial intelligence.

The process involves diagnosing a company’s artificial intelligence readiness, identifying business problems and supporting practical, bite-sized applications.

It also covers job redesign and group-based pilot programs.

Chia said the center works with companies through one-to-one consultations, workshops and group projects.

The center provides advisory services to about 1,200 companies annually, according to Chia.

The DTI said the framework could serve as a model for cooperation with the federation in helping Philippine small businesses undertake digital transformation.

Food exports and regional branding

Roque also promoted Philippine coconut, ube, calamansi, banana and pineapple products while seeking partnerships that could help Filipino enterprises enter Singapore.

The DTI wants Philippine companies to use Singapore as a regional branding and re-export hub.

The agency said exhibitors at the Philippine Pavilion during Food and Hospitality Asia 2026 in Singapore in April generated about USD 3 million in initial sales.

The exhibitors were also negotiating potential transactions worth USD 100 million, the DTI said.

Roque invited the federation’s Food and Beverage Industry Group to attend IFEX 2027 in Manila.

Established in 1932, the Singapore Manufacturing Federation is Singapore’s largest national organization representing manufacturing and manufacturing-related industries.

Its members range from small and medium enterprises to multinational corporations.

Regional expansion opportunities

Roque continued the investment campaign during a July 31, 2026, networking session with the Singapore Business Federation’s Southeast Asia Business Group.

She presented opportunities in manufacturing, semiconductors, agricultural technology, food processing, business process outsourcing, digital services, retail and green industries.

“The Philippines offers Singapore companies a strong base for serving both our domestic market and the wider ASEAN region. We have a young and skilled workforce, growing digital capabilities and strategic economic zones that can support businesses seeking resilient and diversified operations,” Secretary Roque said.

The session was intended to identify Singaporean companies considering additional operating sites.

It also sought to position the Philippines as an option for regional diversification.

Participants included Singapore Business Federation Chairman Mark Lee and CEO Kok Ping Soon.

Southeast Asia Business Group Chairperson Yong Hsin Yue, who is also managing director of Kuok (Singapore) Limited, attended the meeting.

Kuok (Singapore) is part of the Kuok Group behind Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, which has a significant hospitality and retail presence in the Philippines.

Southeast Asia Business Group vice chairmen Prasoon Mukherjee and Lenny Lim also attended.

DTI Singapore Commercial Counsellor Carla Grepo was also present.

Digital economy agreement

The federation’s leaders sought more clarity on the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement to identify specific commercial opportunities.

They also called for more business missions and bilateral engagements between Singapore and the Philippines.

Roque said the Philippines could assist companies at different stages of expansion.

Government support could include finding sites and local partners and processing registrations, permits and incentives.

She said the government could also help investors meet their workforce requirements.

The DTI highlighted New Clark City and other economic corridors across Luzon as potential locations for advanced manufacturing, digital infrastructure and logistics operations.

The areas also offer opportunities in semiconductors, clean energy and technology-driven industries, the agency said.

Roque affirmed government support for the federation’s planned Philippine business mission in 2026.

The mission is expected to cover business process outsourcing, agricultural technology, manufacturing, retail, food and beverage, talent development and digital services.

“This engagement is an important first step. We want to connect Singapore companies with the right Philippine partners and turn their interest into investments that generate quality jobs, transfer technology and create more opportunities for Filipino enterprises,” Roque added.

Roque cited the Philippines’ 2026 ASEAN chairship as an opportunity to strengthen regional business relationships.

The country’s Prosperity Corridors agenda focuses on developing micro, small and medium enterprises, expanding the digital economy and strengthening creative industries.

The DTI said it would continue working with the Singapore Business Federation, Philippine investment promotion agencies, economic zone authorities and private-sector partners to facilitate prospective investments.

USEL eyes logistics and data centers

In a separate discussion, Singapore-headquartered infrastructure conglomerate Universal Success Enterprises Limited raised its interest in expanding into the Philippines.

The company is exploring possible investments in logistics parks and data centers.

Its operations are concentrated in India and Southeast Asia.

Roque met USEL founder and Chairman Prasoon Mukherjee on the sidelines of the Singapore Business Federation ASEAN Conference at the Resorts World Convention Centre in Singapore.

Mukherjee also serves as a vice chairman of the federation’s Southeast Asia Business Group.

Roque said USEL’s plans were aligned with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s economic modernization agenda.

“We highly welcome USEL’s interest to invest in our logistics and data center industries. Mr. Mukherjee and USEL are no strangers to the Philippines, and their strategic shift toward large-scale infrastructure presents an opportunity for collaboration,” Secretary Roque said.

“With our upgraded incentive regimes under the CREATE MORE Act and a rapidly expanding digital economy, the Philippines is fully equipped to support global developers like USEL. Beyond the Board of Investments, we want to present the full landscape of our ecozones across the entire Philippine government—whether under PEZA, CDC, SBMA, or other investment promotion agencies.”

“As a government, our role is to showcase every strategic location available so investors can choose the setup that best fits their growth model. The DTI and PTIC-Singapore stand ready to facilitate these connections and ensure a smooth, end-to-end investment journey,” she added.

USEL previously managed the Philippine master franchise for Outback Steakhouse from 2010 to 2022.

The company is now exploring partnerships with Philippine industry leaders, including the PLDT Group.

The potential partnerships would allow USEL to enter the country’s expanding data center network and respond to logistics demand.

The Philippine data center market is projected to reach USD 2.48 billion by 2031.

The DTI said competitive construction costs and strong digital consumption were supporting demand for Philippine data centers.

The agency said the country’s economic zones could also provide fully serviced land and streamlined regulatory systems for modern logistics parks.

DTI Chief of Staff FTSO Jeremiah C. Reyes and PTIC-Singapore Commercial Counsellor Carla Regina P. Grepo-Terentev joined Roque during the USEL meeting.

Mukherjee led the USEL delegation.