The Philippines has positioned itself as a strategic investment destination for Spanish companies, highlighting opportunities in infrastructure, renewable energy, digital technology, and business process management during a business conference hosted by the Madrid Chamber of Commerce.
The conference, titled “Business Connection: Spain and the Philippines,” was organized by the Madrid Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the Philippine Embassy in Spain, the Philippine Trade and Investment Center in Madrid (PTIC-Madrid), and the IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP).
The event showcased the Philippines’ economic potential as one of Southeast Asia’s fastest-growing markets, with a population exceeding 117 million and annual economic growth of more than five percent.
The gathering also came ahead of the 80th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Spain in 2027, underscoring efforts to strengthen bilateral trade and investment ties.
Madrid Chamber of Commerce President Ángel Asensio and Philippine Ambassador to Spain Philippe Jones Lhuillier emphasized the historical and cultural connections between the two countries and their potential to support stronger economic cooperation.
“For Spanish companies, growing abroad is not an option, it is an obligation of competitiveness,” Asensio said, describing the Philippines as a market offering significant business opportunities.
Philippine Commercial Counsellor Althea Karen Antonio welcomed the growing interest among Spanish businesses and emphasized the country’s strategic position as a gateway to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), a regional market of more than 600 million consumers.
Deputy Chief of Mission Mark F. Hamoy likewise highlighted the Philippines’ young and skilled workforce, noting that the country has an average population age of 26 and produces approximately 700,000 university graduates annually.
Hamoy said these demographic advantages, combined with the country’s longstanding cultural and historical ties with Spain, make the Philippines an attractive destination for European investors seeking to expand into Asian markets.
Among the investment opportunities presented was the Philippine government’s Build Better More infrastructure program, which covers 207 major projects valued at approximately $183 billion.
The conference also highlighted the Luzon Economic Corridor, an infrastructure and investment initiative supported by international partners, as well as opportunities in renewable energy following policy reforms allowing full foreign ownership of qualifying renewable energy projects.
Participants also discussed the potential benefits of a future free trade agreement between the Philippines and the European Union, with negotiations targeted for completion in 2027.
Philippine IT-BPM industry eyes $42.3 billion in revenue
The country’s expanding information technology and business process management (IT-BPM) industry emerged as a major focus of the conference.
IBPAP President and CEO Celeste Ilagan said the Philippine IT-BPM sector is projected to employ 1.94 million full-time professionals and generate $42.3 billion in revenue in 2026.
Marking its 25th anniversary, the industry has established the Philippines as one of the world’s leading destinations for outsourced business and technology services.
“Our sector is strategic and capable of accompanying Spanish companies in their needs for international expansion,” Ilagan said.
She highlighted opportunities for Spanish companies to establish global capability centers, software development operations, artificial intelligence services, financial technology support, and healthcare management facilities in the Philippines.
The country’s large pool of English-proficient professionals, competitive operating costs, and established outsourcing ecosystem were identified as key advantages for international businesses.
Spanish companies share Philippine expansion plans
The conference also featured investment experiences from Spanish companies with established operations in the Philippines, including travel technology firm Amadeus and food and beverage company Calidad Pascual.
Geraldine Filippi, Senior Vice President for Public Affairs at Amadeus, discussed the company’s nearly three decades of operations in the Philippine market.
“In June 2027, we will celebrate our 30th anniversary, and we are very happy to have been able to develop a lot of technology,” Filippi said.
She highlighted the company’s involvement in airport digitalization and passenger processing technologies, including biometric identification and automated electronic gates.
Meanwhile, Calidad Pascual International Marketing Director Roberto Bernuy announced plans to establish a manufacturing facility in the Philippines as part of the company’s expansion strategy.
The Spanish food and beverage company entered the Philippine market in 2012–2013 through a joint venture with a local partner.
“We are going to take a new step, which is the creation of a factory there in the country to be able to produce locally, which is a milestone for us,” Bernuy said.
He explained that local manufacturing would allow the company to expand its operations more rapidly and capitalize on the Philippines’ growing consumer market.
The Madrid conference reinforced the Philippines’ efforts to attract greater European investment while encouraging Spanish businesses to explore opportunities in the country’s infrastructure, energy, technology, and consumer sectors.
With the 80th anniversary of diplomatic relations approaching, both countries are seeking to translate their longstanding historical ties into stronger commercial partnerships and sustained economic cooperation.