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Manila Bulletin devider Business devider UK tech firms eye Philippine collaborations

UK tech firms eye Philippine collaborations

Published Mar 25, 2025 09:19 am
UK Tech Week in Manila.jpg
The United Kingdom’s (UK) Ambassador to the Philippines Laure Beaufils (second from right) and His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for Asia-Pacific Martin Kent (rightmost) launched a new partnership with Fintech Alliance Philippines on Monday, March 24, during the first day of the UK-Southeast Asia Tech Week in Manila (BRITISH EMBASSY MANILA)

The United Kingdom (UK) government successfully hosted the UK-Southeast Asia Tech Week in Manila, a two-day event that brought together leaders from the UK and Philippine tech sectors.

The event aimed to drive innovation, collaboration, and investment under the theme “Bridging Boundaries, Building a Resilient, Innovative, and Inclusive Tech Ecosystem.” It showcased British cutting-edge technology and expertise while fostering partnerships to strengthen the region’s tech landscape.

His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for Asia-Pacific, Martin Kent, led a delegation of 12 pioneering British artificial intelligence (AI) and data companies, exploring opportunities for collaboration with Philippine partners in the tech ecosystem.

“The UK is a global leader in science and technology, with our tech ecosystem worth $1.2 trillion—the third largest in the world after the United States (US) and China,” he noted in a statement on Tuesday, March 25.

“The UK is committed to building opportunities for mutual prosperity with the Philippines, and I look forward to the innovation and new partnerships that will unfold from this week,” he added.

Laure Beaufils, the UK’s Ambassador to the Philippines, said in a speech on Monday, March 24, that “the Philippines, with its rapidly growing digital economy, presents immense opportunities for collaboration, from regtech solutions to embedded finance and digital identity verification.”

“Companies such as Wise, known for making cross-border transactions faster and more affordable, and NCC Group, a global leader in cyber risk management, have already opened offices in the Philippines, ready to support the Philippine’s Financial Inclusion story and help local enterprises in fortifying their digital infrastructure,” she noted.

To strengthen the UK-Philippine tech partnership, Beaufils signed a strategic partnership with Fintech Alliance Philippines. The agreement is aimed at enhancing cooperation in the fintech sector, particularly in driving financial inclusion and technological advancement across the industry.

“The UK is proud to be a long-standing partner in the Philippines’ digital journey, supporting initiatives that foster innovation, improve cybersecurity resilience and develop a skilled tech workforce,” she said.

In addition, the British Embassy and Kickstart Ventures, the Philippines’ biggest corporate venture capital firm, launched the UK Tech Growth Program. This collaboration is designed to match UK startups with potential investment from Kickstart Ventures through The Ayala Corp. Technology Innovation Venture Fund (ACTIVE Fund), the largest venture capital fund to come out of the Philippines.

“We recognize the vital role of forging partnerships beyond borders in fueling innovation that benefits all—a commitment we take to heart at Kickstart. Our collaboration with the British Embassy is integral to this commitment, allowing us to lead transformative investments with UK startups and bring in tech-driven solutions that ensure mutual growth,” British Embassy Manila quoted Kickstart Ventures Managing Partner and Co-Founder Minette Navarrete as saying.

“Technology is not just about infrastructure—it’s about partnerships, trust, and shared progress. The UK is working hand in hand with the Philippines on this, supporting it to expand its tech ecosystem,” said Beaufils.

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