UK firms keen on areas outside Metro Manila

MANILA, Philippines — More companies from the UK are looking to set up businesses in areas outside Metro Manila, driven by greater ease of doing business and opportunities from infrastructure development.

In a briefing, British Chamber of Commerce Philippines(BCCP) executive chairman Chris Nelson said UK-based firms continue to express interest to do business in the Philippines, particularly in the city of Davao.

Nelson said this interest sprouted after the British chamber held a trade and investment mission to Davao last March, with already two chamber members having established their businesses there.

“During the trade mission, there was a presentation of the infrastructure projects in Davao, the Mindanao railway,the other potential project and they’ve the opportunity obviously, so they established an office,” Nelson said.

Among the British companies that have entered the Davao market are SeaGard Marine Asset Protection and YLF Contracts and Cost Solutions.

Nelson said around 60 more companies have expressed interest in doing business in the country.

“We’re still optimistic that some companies who have expressed interest will follow up as well,” he said.

Apart from the opportunities brought by infrastructure development in Davao, Nelson identified the ease of doing business in Davao as another factor luring companies to enter the Davao market.

“Getting your business permits in Davao is very straightforward. For companies who go there, they can do business, because ease of doing business is one of the constant questions that companies have,” Nelson said.

Nelson said apart from Davao, several UK-based firms also expressed interest in investing in other areas outside of Metro Manila such as Clark and Iloilo.

“I think the other couple areas we’re looking at will probably be Clark and Iloilo as well because some of the companies have expressed interest as well,” Nelson said.

He added that the BCCP is looking to hold future trade missions in the other two areas to get more UK companies to set up their businesses there.

“There is a lot of opportunities between the two countries and I think those opportunities will be both in Metro Manila and outside. But it’s a question about educating, taking people there. It’s a constant effort,” Nelson said.

“We must keep on promoting and publicizing the opportunities. The fact that the Philippines is a good market, growing population, with clear need for infra, but also opportunities in the retail sector,” Nelson said.

BCCP is set to hold the Dutertenomics Forum next week to discuss the administration’s economic and development blueprint.

BCCP has partnered with the Presidential Communications Operations Office(PCOO), the Makati Business Club (MBC) and  the Management Association of the Philippines(MAP).