The British Chamber of Commerce Philippines (BCCP) in partnership with AppleOne Group, HSBC, SGV and Co., Pru Life UK, and and Shang Properties will hold its 2025 Midyear Economic Briefing on 31 July 2025, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Dusit Thani Manila, with the theme “Powering Growth Through Policy, Partnership, and Innovation.” The event will explore recent policy updates, macroeconomic trends, and key strategies to strengthen trade relations between the Philippines and the UK.
The event is supported by Manila Standard as a media partner. Official representatives from the government and the private sector will share their expertise and insights in the Philippines growth rate trend, monetary policy, and strategies toward further driving foreign direct investments in areas such as public-private partnerships, infrastructure, and renewable energy.
In the first quarter of 2025, the Philippines recorded a GDP growth of 5.4%. Although slightly below expectations, the growth was supported by a decline in inflation to 1.4% in June 2025 and the continued easing of monetary policy. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Monetary Board implemented its second rate cut of the year, lowering the target reverse repurchase rate by 25 basis points—from 5.5% to 5.25%.
The discussion will also cover the Philippines’ strategy for trade diversification, highlighting key developments in Philippine-UK trade relations. These include the establishment of the Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO), the implementation of the Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS), and the country’s interest to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), especially in light of the UK’s recent accession and the resulting trade benefits and expanded market access.
The British Chamber expressed its support for the 20th Congress and anticipates the enactment of key legislative measures, including the E-Governance Act, Konektadong Pinoy Act, Cybersecurity Act, and other economic reforms aimed at further opening up the Philippine economy and strengthening its position as a prime investment hub in the region.
BCCP Executive Vice Chair Chris Nelson previously noted that, “Legislation is important. What I have to stress is the Philippines is competing with other markets in Southeast Asia and therefore, we need to keep on driving that liberalization, communicating it well, and highlighting those opportunities particularly, with a talented workforce and a developing market.”
Interested participants may register here: https://britcham.org.ph/events/2025-midyear-briefing-powering-growth-through-policy-partnership-and-innovation/.
