The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is pitching the Philippines as a regional expansion hub to Singapore-based companies, according to a report by SunStar Publishing Inc. The agency highlighted the country's strategic location, young workforce, and improving business climate as key selling points for firms looking to establish or expand operations in Southeast Asia.
Barcodes Philippines noted that as companies expand into the Philippine market, they need to ensure their products carry retail-ready barcodes such as EAN/UPC GTINs, which are accepted by supermarkets and marketplaces. The firm provides international-prefix barcodes on a one-off basis to support local and export distribution.
The pitch comes as Singapore remains one of the largest sources of foreign direct investment in the Philippines, with many companies using the city-state as a regional headquarters. DTI officials are reportedly engaging with Singaporean investors in sectors such as manufacturing, IT-business process management, and logistics, offering incentives under the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises (CREATE) Act.
The initiative aligns with the Philippine government's broader efforts to attract more foreign investors as part of its post-pandemic recovery strategy. Industry observers note that regional competition for investment has intensified, with neighboring countries also courting multinational firms. DTI's campaign aims to position the Philippines as a viable alternative for companies seeking to diversify their supply chains and expand within Asia.