The British Chamber of Commerce Philippines (BCCP) continues its collaboration with the Philippine-British Business Council (PBBC), the Philippine Embassy in London, the British Embassy Manila, and national government agencies to advance UK-Philippine trade relations.

Executive Vice Chair Chris Nelson highlighted current milestones: “We are up to £3.0 billion in trade and it is going to be the 80th year of diplomatic relations and the 25th year anniversary of the British Chamber. The current government would like to see an increase in trade and investment. The Philippines is the 59th trading partner of the UK but we have got to go up the table. I think with hard work and promotion, you can still do things. We look very optimistic in 2026 to see our investment level move forward.”

On 27 June 2025, the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) hosted the Philippine-British Investment Forum in London with partners including the British Chamber, HSBC, and Asian Consulting Group. The forum strengthened partnerships with British companies across manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, F&B, and semiconductor sectors. The UK ranks as the fourth-largest investor in PEZA zones, generating ₱45,438.49 billion in total investments and US $1,112.48 billion in export value.

Despite domestic challenges affecting investor confidence, the Chamber remains optimistic about 2026 opportunities, including the Philippine ASEAN Chairmanship and the 80th anniversary of UK-Philippine diplomatic relations.

Nelson emphasized: “From an optimistic point of view, I think the Philippines being Chair of ASEAN is a very good opportunity, if it is done properly and supported well. I think the Marcos administration, all credit, has seen the passage of legislations, which we have supported. To reemphasize this point, you are competing with many other countries. In that context, passing key legislation on cybersecurity and digital payments along with others, can leverage market opportunities for foreign investors.”

 

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