Major British firms – AstraZeneca, KPMG, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), Arup,
OCS and the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) – continued to underscore their confidence in the Philippines and the reforms being implemented by the Marcos administration.
In a statement, the Office of the Special Assistant to the President for Investment
and Economic Affairs (OSAPIEA) said the British firms comprised the UK ASEAN Business Council (UKABC) delegation on Wednesday, October 29.
Led by Lord Vaizey, Chair of the UKABC, the mission underscored the continued
confidence of British investors in the Philippines’ solid economic fundamentals and the
government’s steadfast implementation of landmark reforms.
“We had a very productive meeting with Secretary Go and Secretary Roque… the Philippine
economy is doing extremely well. The UKABC looks forward to supporting the
Philippines chairmanship of ASEAN for 2026,” said Lord Vaizey.
For his part, Special Assistant to the President for Investment
and Economic Affairs (SAPIEA) Frederick D. Go emphasized the government’s drive to
deepen economic cooperation and translate investor interest into tangible results.
“Today’s gathering is a demonstration of our shared commitment to deepen economic
cooperation and create new growth opportunities — accelerating investments and
translating British interest into tangible projects that create jobs and bolster sustainable
development in the Philippines,” Secretary Go said.
Trade and Industry Secretary Roque reaffirmed the Marcos Jr. administration’s commitment to
sustaining investor confidence and fostering a business environment that enables
innovation and long-term growth.”
“The United Kingdom has been a steadfast partner in our pursuit of inclusive and
sustainable growth. We aim to build on this confidence through deeper trade,
investment, and policy collaboration that benefits both our nations,” Secretary Roque said.
The mission forms part of the Philippine government’s broader efforts to encourage and
secure long-term, high-value investments while leveraging its upcoming ASEAN
Chairmanship to advance regional financial integration, innovation, and sustainable
development. Officials noted that the discussions will lay the groundwork for concrete,
actionable partnerships that strengthen the Philippines’ investment climate and promote
inclusive, resilient growth.
In 2024, the United Kingdom emerged as the top investor in the Philippines, primarily
driven by Actis’ investment in the country’s largest solar and battery storage facility
located in Central Luzon. The UK is also the 4th largest investor in ASEAN.
