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Philippines courts Greater Bay Area investors as gateway to Southeast Asia
Manila’s trade chief points to soaring trade data and special economic zones in her pitch to Chinese investors at SCMP’s GBA-Asean Summit
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The Philippines is uniquely positioned to serve as a gateway for Greater Bay Area businesses into Southeast Asia, the country’s trade secretary said on Tuesday, as she outlined Manila’s push to promote a pro-investment environment.
Speaking at the South China Morning Post’s GBA-Asean Summit 2026, Cristina Aldeguer-Roque urged investors to view the Philippines as a springboard into the region and to tap into the country’s young, digitally fluent workforce.
“We are a maritime, demographic and digital bridge built for the decade ahead,” she told the forum at the Fullerton Ocean Park Hotel in Hong Kong.
With a population of 150 million who were predominantly young and English-speaking, the Philippines was “uniquely positioned” to complement the Greater Bay Area’s research and development capabilities, Aldeguer-Roque said.
With our strategic location and highly adaptive workforce, we are offering a welcoming platform
“With our strategic location and highly adaptive workforce, we are offering a welcoming platform for GBA [Greater Bay Area] enterprises looking to expand or establish their presence in the fast-growing Southeast Asian market.”
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