PEZA eyes pioneering in digitalization, constantly pursuing enhanced EODB

The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) commits to make itself a trailblazer in financial technology, blockchain technology, AI-based solutions, and other BPO 2.0 innovation in constant pursuit of enhancing the ease of doing business in the Philippines and pertinently, in the ecozones.

Through the leadership of Director General Tereso O. Panga, PEZA will strengthen further its initiatives in relation to the Marcos administration’s efforts to ramp up digital economy to further contribute to the overall growth and economic development of the country.

Ongoing collaborations for digitalization and BPO 2.0

PEZA, as the top export-oriented IPA in the country, is gearing up to unlock the country’s potential as an emerging economic powerhouse by spotlighting areas of investment and by thoroughly supporting the country as a priority investment destination.

Hence, PEZA is partnering with various government agencies and industry-led private sector groups to continuously enhance the ease of doing business in the Philippines for the Filipinos and investors alike.

“We have partnered with Astrolabe and Digital Pilipinas for the continuous improvement and stakeholders’ capacity building initiative on financial economic services that would eventually be integrated in the Philippine financial systems and platforms. Likewise, we are collaborating with the DICT in promoting digitalization to enhance office efficiencies, customer satisfaction and the delivery of services for a much-improved ease of doing business. In other words, we want to be a trailblazer in this field,” stated PEZA Chief Panga.

PHL as a viable Digital Bridgeway in ASEAN, World

In the recently concluded event of PEZA and Astrolabe-Digital Pilipinas last 27 April 2023 aptly titled, “Philippines: The Digital Bridgeway in the ASEAN and the World”, experts have discussed how the country can attain the various business and investment opportunities for the emerging sector.

Ms. Amor Maclang, the convenor of Astrolabe and Digital Pilipinas and PEZA’s investment promotion partner, has expressed that there’s growing confidence of investments in the Philippines especially in its startup ecosystem.

“We are primed to time take it up a notch by upskilling our workforce with the knowledge and skillset to tackle on fintech, AI, web3, blockchain, e-commerce, and other nascent technologies,” noted Maclang.

In line with this, DG Panga explained how the Authority plans on unlocking its potential to cater to the relevant sectors. “From within our domain and sphere of influence in PEZA, we want to put up our own industry excellence centers so we can put up and provide incubation facilities for start-ups to boost our competitiveness in the manufacturing and IT-BPO sectors,” he said.

“PEZA’s leads in the setting up of Knowledge, Innovation, Science and Technology (KIST) Parks where we want to promote synergies between the academe and the industries to engender scientific studies, innovations and where High-Tech ecozones can promote R&D and commercialization of patents, and the various industry upskilling/reskilling measures to prepare the Filipino workforce and local supply/global value chains for advanced manufacturing and Industry 4.0—all these will complement the various initiatives of our government in strengthening the ecosystem to accelerate entry of frontier technologies into the country,” noted the PEZA Director General.

As of date, PEZA is implementing much needed digitization efforts pursuant to the call of the President to lift the difficulties in the ease of doing business in the country with the enhanced ARTA processes and the provision of green lanes for investors through Executive Order No. 18.

“As we look to the future, let us continue to collaborate and bring down the painpoints that are barriers to entry of investments in the country and achieve our goal of a more inclusive and sustainable economy. Together, let’s make it happen in the Philippines,” concluded Panga.