Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Cristina Roque met with global leaders from PayPal and the WEF’s Work Wages and Job Creation Committee to advance key initiatives aimed at boosting the Philippines’ digital economy and preparing its workforce for emerging technologies.
Roque, in a dialogue on the sidelines of World Economic Forum (WEF) 2025, encouraged Paypal to explore how it could help accelerate digital financial inclusion for Philippine micro, small and medium enterprises.
PayPal, which has been a key player in global fintech, noted the Philippines’ strides in financial inclusion, noting its commitment to artificial intelligence (AI), sustainability and creating tailored solutions for small businesses.
Roque urged PayPal global market president Suzan Kareere to enhance the fintech’s integration with local e-commerce platforms and online marketplaces and allow Filipino businesses access to international markets using an optimized payment process.
The discussion involved low-code solutions for faster payments, optimizing currency conversion for global transactions and expanding trade finance options to facilitate easier cross-border commerce.
Both parties cited the importance of strengthening the digital infrastructure needed to support MSMEs and improve their access to global markets.
Roque also met with WEF head of work, wages and job creation Till Leopold to further the Philippines’ participation in the Jobs Accelerator Initiative.
The initiative focuses on driving job creation and upskilling the Filipino workforce in key sectors such as semiconductors, electronics, business process outsourcing (BPO) and critical minerals.
The Philippines showed keen interest in the WEF’s Future of Jobs Report, which highlights the skills required to thrive in a rapidly digitizing economy.
The Philippines recognized the necessity of developing a workforce that can adapt to new technologies and lead in the global digital economy.