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Manila Bulletin devider Business devider Trade & Industry devider Over 20 Indian AI firms eye investments in Philippines' Pax Silica industrial hub

Over 20 Indian AI firms eye investments in Philippines' Pax Silica industrial hub

Published Jul 31, 2026 01:13 pm
New Clark City (Photo: BCDA)
New Clark City (Photo: BCDA)
Indian artificial intelligence (AI) companies are set to explore investment opportunities in the proposed Pax Silica industrial hub later this year, according to the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce Philippines Inc. (FICCI).
FICCI Vice President Vedant Bhardwaj said a delegation of more than 20 Indian firms is scheduled to visit the site in New Clark City, Tarlac, this September.
“These are various Indian AI companies that are coming in and looking into investments,” Bhardwaj told Manila Bulletin in a recent interview.
He added that several of the firms are also interested in exploring advanced manufacturing and semiconductor production at the hub.
The AI hub fulfills part of the Philippines’ commitment under the United States-led Pax Silica initiative, which the country joined in April as its 13th member.
The project aims to position the Philippines as a key regional player in emerging technologies, attracting investments in AI, critical minerals, semiconductors, and advanced manufacturing.
Bhardwaj noted that the initiative is particularly attractive to Indian firms amid India’s ongoing AI boom, which is driving a rapid expansion in digital infrastructure and data centers.
He highlighted the Philippines as an ideal expansion destination due to its strong workforce and emerging AI ecosystem.
“India is expanding and the Philippines is the right partner for that expansion,” Bhardwaj said.
Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Secretary Henry Aguda estimated that the hub's data center capacity could reach at least 400 megawatts (MW) once fully operational.
Aguda said that the site is prime for data center investments thanks to its direct links to international fiber-optic cables and a strategic location bridging the US, the Pacific, and Asia, including India.
The site visit is scheduled as part of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)–India Business Forum, taking place in Manila on Sept. 23. The forum seeks to deepen economic ties and foster collaboration among businesses, policymakers, and regional stakeholders.
Bhardwaj added that the forum will also feature investment opportunities across other key sectors, including agriculture and information technology and business process management (IT-BPM).

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Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce Philippines Inc. (FICCI) Pax Silica New Clark City
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