The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is aiming to establish the Philippines as Southeast Asia’s hub for smart and sustainable manufacturing and services. This strategic vision was highlighted by Trade and Industry Undersecretary Ceferino Rodolfo during a business forum in Cebu on August 16, organized by Security Bank Corp. and SyCip Gorres Velayo (SGV) & Co.
Rodolfo, who also serves as the managing head of the Board of Investments (BOI), emphasized the importance of advancing sectors such as renewable energy, semiconductors, and smart/high-tech light manufacturing. He noted that these industries are critical to positioning the country as a leader in sustainable development and innovation. Additional focus areas include outsourced semiconductor assembly and testing, high-tech agriculture, and data centers/telecommunications infrastructure.
The forum also featured insights from DTI Central Visayas Director Maria Elena Arbon on the potential of small- and medium-sized enterprises, and lawyer Jules Riego on the importance of wealth management and succession planning. Rodolfo mentioned that the Marcos administration is actively pursuing reforms to support this initiative, including forging free trade agreements (FTA) with various countries to facilitate technology transfer and attract investments.
During a business forum in Cebu, Trade and Industry Undersecretary Ceferino Rodolfo highlighted that the Board of Investments (BOI) has approved P3.912 billion worth of private sector projects across various industries, including cold storage, renewable energy, information technology and business process management, and manufacturing.
Despite these significant investments, Rodolfo emphasized the urgent need for stronger collaboration between the government and private sector to bolster economic growth in the Philippines. He pointed out that the country has a limited timeframe to achieve its ambition of becoming Southeast Asia’s hub for smart and sustainable manufacturing and services. The forum, organized by Security Bank, aligns with the bank's BetterBanking brand promise, which regularly facilitates events to foster industry dialogue and development.