The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is looking to partner with American technology giant Google to pursue investments aimed at enhancing the country’s digital infrastructure and capabilities.

Trade Secretary Cristina Roque met with top officials of Google last week on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministers Responsible for Trade (MRT) meeting in Jeju, South Korea, to discuss the potential collaboration.

In a statement on Monday, May 19, Roque said the meeting primarily focused on advancing the country’s data center infrastructure and internet connectivity.

She noted that the Philippines already plays a strategic role in the global value chain, pointing to the fact that the country’s top exports include electronics and semiconductors.

Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed that electronic products remained the highest commodity group in export sales, reaching $39.09 billion last year—more than half of the country’s total exports.

Roque said the country is also primed to support advanced manufacturing, given its capacity to support global tech companies already in operation, such as Google itself.

Since establishing its footprint in the Philippines in 2013, Google’s local unit has supported the tech giant’s global functions through customer and operational support services.

Google has likewise contributed to the country’s digital landscape through its investments in the information technology and business process management (IT-BPM) sector and subsea internet cable development.

Roque said future investments could be directed to help transform the country into an attractive destination for hyperscaler companies.

“With our young, tech-savvy population and rapidly strengthening infrastructure, we are laying the foundation for inclusive innovation and sustainable growth,” the Secretary said.

“The Philippines stands ready to be a vital partner in the global digital value chain,” she added.

Based on DTI data, the country currently has 25 commercial data centers that are ready to meet the data processing and storage needs of tech firms.

This will be supported by 19 international subsea cable systems, 13 cable landing stations, and more than 840,000 kilometers (km) of domestic fiber optic rollout.

The government has committed to safeguard these investments through proactive measures such as talent development, intellectual property protection, and the promotion of data privacy and cybersecurity policies.

At the same time, Roque said her agency and Google may also consider deepening cooperation in digital workforce development.

She said the partnership may cover support, capacity, and capability-building programs for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), particularly targeting women and youth entrepreneurs.

“MSMEs are the backbone of the Philippine economy. Empowering them with digital tools and capabilities ensures that no one is left behind in the country’s innovation journey,” she added.

Further, Roque said she has invited the company to be a key partner next year when the Philippines assumes the rotating chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Google is seen to help push forward digital inclusion, cross-border e-commerce, and cybersecurity to champion the region’s digital priorities.

“The DTI remains committed to continue working with global technology leaders like Google to strengthen the Philippines’ position as a competitive hub for digital infrastructure and innovation in the region,” said Roque.