JEJU, SOUTH KOREA—On May 15, 2025, Philippine Trade and Investment Secretary Cristina A. Roque convened with executives from Google during the APEC-MRT 2025 to explore collaborative opportunities aimed at enhancing the country's digital infrastructure and capabilities.

The discussions primarily centered on advancing data center infrastructure, improving internet connectivity, and fostering cooperation in digital workforce development, reflecting the Philippine government's initiatives to attract significant investments in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s digital transformation agenda.

During the meeting, Secretary Roque highlighted the Philippines' potential as a key player in the global digital value chain, citing its youthful and tech-savvy population alongside rapidly improving infrastructure as essential elements for fostering inclusive innovation and sustainable economic growth.

She noted the nation’s prominent exports, which include electronics, semiconductors, machinery, and equipment, as indicative of the country’s capability to support advanced manufacturing for technology firms like Google.

The Secretary acknowledged Google’s contributions to the Philippine digital landscape, particularly through investments in subsea internet cable development and support for the Information Technology-Business Process Management (IT-BPM) sector.

Since its entry into the national market in 2013, Google Philippines has provided vital support for the company’s operational functions.

With a population of approximately 110 million and increasing digital consumption rates, the Philippines has emerged as an attractive destination for hyperscaler companies.

The government encourages this climate through incentives established under the CREATE MORE law, enhancing the nation's existing digital backbone that consists of 19 international subsea cable systems, 13 cable landing stations, over 840,000 kilometers of domestic fiber optics, and 25 commercial data centers collectively possessing a rack capacity of 19,000.

In her discussions, Secretary Roque reaffirmed the government's commitment to facilitating hyperscaler operations through various proactive measures, including talent development, the promotion of intellectual property protections, and the advancement of data privacy and cybersecurity policies.

Roque praised Google's partnership with the DTI in enhancing digital skills through the Google Career Certificates (GCC) program, set to launch in 2024, which will be implemented across over 1,300 Negosyo Centers nationwide.

She emphasized the importance of strengthening collaboration between DTI and Google to develop capacity-building initiatives targeting micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), especially focusing on empowering 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,” Roque stated.

Looking ahead to the Philippines' role as ASEAN Chair in 2026, Roque extended an invitation for Google to play a pivotal role in promoting regional digital priorities, emphasizing that digital inclusion, cross-border e-commerce, and cybersecurity must be addressed through robust collaboration among Southeast Asian nations.

The meeting included participation from Google’s Vice President and Global Head for Government Affairs and Public Policy, Karan Bhatia; Google Cloud’s Head of Government Affairs and Public Policy-Southeast Asia Cluster, Su Ann Lim; and Asia Pacific Head of Trade Policy and Competitiveness, Darry Lim, along with the Philippine Trade and Investment Center in Seoul’s Commercial Attaché, Charmaine Mignon S. Yalong.

The DTI is committed to working with global technology leaders like Google to fortify the Philippines’ standing as a competitive hub for digital infrastructure and innovation across the region.

Strategic collaboration and effective policy support are central to driving innovation, expanding economic prospects, and ensuring that the benefits of digital growth are inclusive and sustainable.