Envoy Carlson’s Lexmark visit intensifies US-Philippines ties

CEBU, Philippines — Lexmark Research and Development Corporation welcomed US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson to its Cebu headquarters last week, underscoring the American firm's role in bolstering innovation and economic ties between the United States and the Philippines.

The visit, held at Lexmark Plaza 1 in Cebu Business Park (CBP) included a facility tour and a strategic roundtable with executives from the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (AmCham), reflecting growing bilateral engagement in the technology and manufacturing sectors.

Ambassador Carlson, joined by a delegation from the US Embassy, toured key research and development hubs within Lexmark Cebu—including the Inventor's Wall, Electromagnetic Compatibility Laboratory, Packaging Laboratory, and Temperature & Humidity Chamber.

Guided by senior Lexmark managers, the tour spotlighted the company’s engineering expertise and commitment to innovation in product development.

“I’m impressed by Lexmark Cebu’s state-of-the-art facilities and their contribution to both local and global innovation ecosystems,” said Carlson during the visit.

The roundtable, hosted by Lexmark Cebu President and CEO Stephan Bily alongside Christina Quebrata, General Manager of Asia Product Delivery, explored policy and industry developments, regional investment potential, and collaborative strategies to deepen US-Philippines trade.

Bily, who also serves on AmCham’s Board of Governors for the Visayas Region, emphasized Lexmark’s role in job creation and technology transfer, noting that the visit affirms the company’s long-term commitment to the Philippines as a critical innovation hub in Asia.

“Ambassador Carlson’s visit highlights the strategic value of our Philippine operations and our continued efforts to build resilient international partnerships,” Bily said.

“It is also a recognition of the role that companies like Lexmark play in advancing the regional innovation economy,” Billy added.

Lexmark Cebu, a key R&D arm of US-based Lexmark International Inc., specializes in imaging technologies and digital workflow solutions for enterprise clients worldwide.

The company employs hundreds of engineers and technical experts in the Philippines and plays a growing role in Lexmark’s global innovation strategy. — (FREEMAN)