UK-Southeast Asia Tech Week 2025

 

Asia tech week 2025

UK-Southeast Asia Tech Week 2025 is the UK’s flagship annual event on science, innovation and technology in Southeast Asia. This year’s event will run from Monday 24 March to Friday 28 March 2025 in the Philippines (Manila) and Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh City).

This year, the UK is taking a delegation of cutting-edge UK AI and data companies to meet with stakeholders and potential partners in Southeast Asia. The companies represent the UK’s tech prowess – we are home to a $1 trillion tech sector with over 150 unicorns.

UK-Southeast Tech Week 2024 was a resounding success, with 150 bespoke business meetings organised, several of which resulted in commercial partnerships for UK companies. This is the third annual Southeast Asia Tech Week. The 2024 programme brought together 10 UK companies and over 500 Southeast Asian counterparts for a full week of activities.

Showcasing the best of UK AI and Data

We are excited to showcase 13 AI and data companies’ cutting-edge solutions in areas such as artificial intelligence, fintech, health tech, and more.

Our goal is to foster meaningful connections and partnerships that will drive technological advancements and economic growth in the UK and Southeast Asia.

See the programme, details of UK companies attending and how to register CLICK HERE

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Great British Festival 2024 (19-20 October 2024) Manila

Great British Festival 2024

  • THE British Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (BCCP) announced the return of the Great British Festival; following its great success in its return last 2023 since its hiatus in 2019 due to the pandemic–in partnership with the British Embassy Manila and the British Council
  • Celebrates UK-Philippine Friendship Day on 20 October 2024
  • A total of 38 UK Companies and over 50,000 attendees joined the event in 2023
  • GBF 2023 Activities: Radical Sportscars F1 simulators, Bike show by Triumph Motorcycles, Bathbomb making by Lush, Samples and selling of One World Butchers, Union Jack Tavern, Quorn, The Borough Pizza Pub, Face-painting and Caricature making
  • GBF 2024 aims to host a much-larger event with more British companies to join

For further information contact BCCP at info@britcham.org.ph 

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UK – Philippines Trade Data (2nd August 2024)

UK - Philippines Trade Data

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Diplomatic Reception on the Terrace of the House of Lords

 

 

Gabriella Quimson Vice Chairman  Philippine British Business Council(PBBC)  and His Excellency Ambassador Locsin arriving the House of Lords.

Joseph Miro Chairman of Philippine British Business Council(PBBC) was also present at a Diplomatic Reception on the Terrace of the House of Lords to hear a speech given by the Rt Hon Lord Howell of Guilford.

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PBBC 30 years Anniversary

 

PBBC Members from left to right: Former British Ambassador to the Philippines Paul Dimond, David H. Bill, Rowena Romulo, Dr. Gabriella Tuason Quimson, Chairman Joseph Miro, Melissa Dizon, representatives from the UK’s Department for Business and Trade Priya Soni and John Williams, and Alistair M. Fulton, taken at the Philippine Embassy in London during their May 2024 meeting.

As the Philippine-British Business Council (PBBC) moves towards our 30th anniversary, under our new London Chairman Joseph Miro the background for the further development of bilateral trade and direct investment opportunities for both countries has never been stronger. The value of UK exports to the Philippines in the four quarters to the end of Q3 2023 was £1.3 billion (+16%), with imports of £1.7 billion (+22%). Services contributed about 40% of the former. UK outward direct investment to the Philippines in 2021 reached £449 million. In recent years, cases of inward direct investment have also grown.

In 2024, we have welcomed among others as members of the PBBC London Dr Gabriella Tuason Quimson and Mr Stephen Philips. Dr Quimson is a governance and anti-corruption specialist. Her father was Philippine Ambassador to the Court of St James’s in the 1980s. She has long experience in the UK and holds both Filipino and British citizenships, dividing her time between the two countries. Mr Philips was appointed Senior Adviser at BDO Unibank in January 2024, in a long career focused on cross-border trade, investment and finance in Asia. Before his appointment as Chief Executive of the China-Britain Business Council in 2006, he had been International Trade Director of UK Trade and Investment in the British Government.

As a business-led apolitical body, the PBBC works closely with both Governments’ trade and investment Departments, with much non-financial support from the Philippine Embassy in London and the British Embassy and the British Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines in Manila. Individual PBBC members (all volunteers) have cumulative experience of trading conditions and contacts of well over 100 years. Unlike other surviving Business Councils, the PBBC itself has long adopted the policy of focus on those sectors offering the more obvious opportunities. These have included IT, agribusiness, energy and retail and we are currently aligning our focus with sectors identified by both Governments.

We offer a free service of advice in the UK to bona fide companies new to the market and are happy to hear from British firms interested in the Philippine market, whether diversifying from other ASEAN markets or completely new to the region, whether they wish to export products or services, find joint partners in the Philippines or invest there directly for longer-term market share. We are equally happy to hear from Philippine companies seeking partners in the UK or looking for direct investment opportunities.

 

All contacts should be directed to info@philippinebritish.com

 

Philippine-British Business Council

London

3 June 2024

 

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Feb 05

Exhibition: Study World 2020

DATE AND TIME

Makati Shangri-La Hotel, Isabela Ballroom

Sat, 21 Mar. 2020, 12.00pm to 6.00pm

The UK Education Advisory Service (UKEAS) partnered with the Department for International Trade, British Embassy Manila, and the British Council, to host this year’s Study World 2020 in the Philippines.

Study World is the UK’s largest exhibition event for international Higher Education Institutions (HEI), expecting to reach at least 500+ attendees in Manila and 200+ attendees in Clark—who are all interested to study in the UK.

There are exhibition slots open for UK HEIs to join and promote their innovating programmes for post-graduate studies on specialised courses, with focus on IT (e.g. Data Analytics, Cybersecurity), Advanced Engineering and Architecture (e.g. Construction, BIM, Rail, Urban Planning), Healthcare (e.g. Digital Health and Medical Informatics) and Finance (i.e. FinTech, e-commerce), among others.

In addition to student recruitment activities, there will be a dedicated event for UK HEIs to collaborate on sustainable, institutional partnerships with Philippine (PH) universities, including sending PH faculty to study in the UK, transnational education (TNE) arrangements, research collaborations, and other education experts.

This is in fulfilment of the recently passed TNE Act which encourages PH HEIs to internationalise and become world-class.

There will be arranged B2B meetings, site visits and matching with reputable and capable PH universities.

Deadline to join is on 21 February 2020.

For more information, interested participants may reach out to Ianela Ortiz, Senior Trade and Investment Manager (DIT Manila) at ianela.ortiz@fco.gov.uk

This March, UKEAS has designed an even better Study World for the Filipinos who dream to further their education with our efforts made in partnership with the British Embassy. Study World will be your main avenue for furthering your personal growth in academe by providing you with the best experience through interactions with representatives from universities in the United Kingdom.

The exhibition shall also provide you with educational workshops and seminars, scholarship opportunities, visa consultations, and other exciting freebies that may assist potential students in making the right decision for their UK study.

Setting up a path for the achievement of your goals is important now more than ever, and your journey starts when you decide where you want to be. The search for self-growth often goes beyond the four walls and exploring the world as you learn is a rare opportunity that not many are given.  

Part of the ride is discovering that your academic journey in the UK can begin with us. Allow UKEAS to bring you a Study World like no other by registering now! You will learn how exploring your opportunities, discovering your potential, and growing the best version of yourself is easy when you attend Study World this March 21, 2020 at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel Isabella Ballroom A, B, and C from 12 noon to 6 in the evening! Remember, Education is Great and #YouCanWithUKEAS!

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Jan 15

UK SUPPLY CHAIN IN MACTAN – CEBU INTL AIRPORT

UK SUPPLY CHAIN IN MACTAN – CEBU INTL AIRPORT

Cebu - Mactan Airport
UK supply chain - airport

UK companies have been successful in the completion of the upgraded MACTAN – CEBU International Airport. The UK has a long track record in the building and fitting out of Airports of all sizes.

Cebu Mactan international airport

Technical innovation is the order of the day with these global UK companies.

Mott Macdonald Technical Advisory Services

ARUP Airport Planning & Engineering Design

Pinsent Masons Legal Services

SSP F& B Operator/Food Hub Curator

GATIC Slotted Drain Covers on Runway

Abacus Leaders in Lighting Airfield Lights

ZOEFTIG Airport Terminal Seating

RL3 Hold Baggage Security Screening

MACDONALD HUMFREY AUTOMATIONAutomated Baggage Screening

BIRAL Meteorological Sensors – Lightning Storm Detection System

The country’s friendliest resort airport, Mactan-Cebu International Airport, was recently recognized by two international awards-giving bodies in architecture for the design of Terminal 2, its international terminal. Terminal 2 was designed by renowned architectural firm Integrated Design Associates Hong Kong. Terminal 2 opened in July last year.

“MCIA continues to be recognized globally not only because it embodies our positioning as a Filipino resort airport, but also because its design and quality of engineering allows us to deliver world-class service and operations,” said Louie Ferrer, President GMR MEGAWIDE Cebu Airport Corporation (GMCAC), the airport’s private developer.

Last year, MCIA received three awards, one of which was Asia Pacific Medium Airport of the Year during the CAPA Aviation Awards for Excellence ceremony, one of the most respected awards in the airport and aviation industry

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Oct 18

Ease of Doing Business and Innovative Startup Act

Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Service Delivery Act of 2018

  • Republic Act 11032 (also referred to as Ease of Doing Business or EODB Law) is part of the continuing effort of the PH government to eliminate red tape and improve the environment for doing business in the PH.  You may recall that Item Number 3 in the President’s 10-point Socioeconomic Agenda is to “Increase competitiveness and the ease of doing business.”  The particular focus of the law is on the accountability and integrity of government service, specifically, ensuring greater efficiency in the delivery of services and preventing graft and corruption. 
  • The Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the EODB Act were signed on 17 July 2019 by the Chairperson of the Civil Service Commission, the Director-General of the Anti-Red Tape Authority and the Secretary of Trade and Industry.
  • Businessmen will be pleased to note that the basics such as number of steps, signatories and documents to complete procedures will be addressed, as well as compliance and transaction costs.  For instance, prescribed processing times will be 3 days for simple transactions, 7 days for more complex transactions and 20 days for highly technical transactions.  Failure of agencies to meet such timelines will mean automatic approval of the transaction.  Automation and electronic versions of licenses, permits, certifications and authorizations will be adopted to the extent possible, under the coordination of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).  Equally important is the directive to make clear and transparent all of this information.
  • Whole-of-Government approach in reengineering government services will be adopted to ensure uniform service standards and harmonization of existing and applicable laws and consistent legal interpretations across all agencies.  The end objective is seamless end-to-end processing in the delivery of government services.
  • The monitoring and evaluation of the compliance of all government agencies shall be the responsibility of the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA), which is under the Office of the President.
  • The Ease of Doing Business and Anti-Red Tape Council is established to set policy directions and programs to continuously advance competitiveness and ease of doing business initiatives.  It is chaired by the DTI Secretary and has as its members the ARTA Director General, Secretaries of DICT, DILG, DOF and 2 private sector representatives.    

Innovative Startup Act of 2019

  • Signed by President Duterte in April 2019, Republic Act 11337 (or the Innovative Startup Act) forms part of the government’s policy to foster inclusive growth through innovative economy by streamlining government and nongovernment initiatives, to create new jobs and opportunities, improve production, and advance innovation and trade.
  • The law creates the Philippine Startup Development Program (PSDP), which shall be composed of programs, benefits, and incentives for startups and startup enablers. The Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) are the lead agencies tasked specifically to promulgate the rules and regulations for the efficient registration and assessment of startup enablers to be registered under the PSDP.
  • Other pertinent provisions include the creation of Philippine Startup Ecozones or Special Economic Zones in order to spur the growth and development of startups and startup enablers. The DTI has also been tasked to spearhead initiatives to develop short, medium, and long-term strategies in order to spur investment in startups. Finally, the law introduces the concept of a Startup Visa which shall be issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to foreign owners, employees, and investors of startups. These shall have an initial 5-year validity, and its bearers shall be exempt from securing an Alien Employment Permit from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), subject to the implementing rules to be promulgated by the DFA. DOLE, and Bureau of Immigration.
ease of doing business

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Oct 15

Philippines Merchandise Trade 2014 – 2018

PH Merchandise Trade (in US$M) 2014-2018 with the UK

  2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Exports 460.73 499.59 501.06 522.21 534.89
Imports 385.62 398.66 509.18 521.61 685.10
Total Trade 846.35 898.25 1,010.24 1,043.81 1,219.99
Balance of Trade 75.11 100.93 (8.12) 0.60 (150.21)

Sources: DTI-Tradeline Philippines[1]

• The compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of the PH merchandise for the total trade to the UK from 2014 to 2018 is at 9.6%. During the same period, the CAGR for import is 15.5%; whilst for export is at 3.8%.

• The top 5 PH exports over the past five years are: a) electronic products (↑7.6%); b) machinery and transport equipment (↓ 11.1%); c) other manufactures (↑ 9.2%); d) tuna (↑ 12.8%); and e) processed food and beverages (↑ 13.4). 2

• Meanwhile, the top 5 imports in 2018 are: a) optical, photographic, measuring or surgical instruments and apparatus; b) miscellaneous manufactured articles; c) furniture, bedding, mattresses; d) toys, games and sports requisites; and e) commodities and transactions not classified elsewhere.3

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