As part of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s five-day state visit to India, the Philippines and India signed 18 pivotal business agreements covering renewable energy, digital services, infrastructure, manufacturing, healthcare, and education.
Trade Secretary Maria Cristina “Tina” Aldeguer-Roque highlighted during the Philippines–India Business Forum in Bengaluru that these partnerships mark “tangible outcomes of our collaborative efforts,” creating a foundation for long-term economic engagement.
President Marcos underscored the strategic alignment between the two nations, pointing to India’s vast market of over 1.4 billion people and reaffirming Manila’s commitment to being a “trusted, connected, and competitive node in the Indo-Pacific economy.” He also cited policy reforms, including the CREATE More Act, the PPP Code, green lanes for strategic projects, and a new enterprise-based education and training law aimed at upskilling the workforce.
The agreements are in line with the Philippines’ industrial roadmap, which prioritises electric vehicles, advanced electronics, renewable energy, high-tech agriculture, healthcare, and cybersecurity. The President expressed interest in collaborations in smart manufacturing, mineral processing, shipbuilding, and data center infrastructure.
The visit also yielded US $446 million in direct investment pledges, signalling growing investor confidence in the Philippines as a key regional partner.
In addition, the two countries formally elevated their relations to a Strategic Partnership, expanding cooperation beyond trade to include defence, maritime security, space exploration, tourism, cultural exchange, and digital technology development.
