GOVPH

Philippines is featured country during the Segye ASEAN Forum 2021

09 December 2021, Seoul - The Philippines was the featured country during the Segye ASEAN Forum 2021 held last December 9, 2021, at the Dragon Hotel in Seoul, Korea.  Hosted by Segye Ilbo, one of the major media groups in Korea, the event this year focused on the economic cooperation in the manufacturing sector between Korea and the Philippines through the PH-KR FTA which is expected to be effective by the first half of 2022.

High-level Philippine and Korean Officials participated in the event. These included DTI Secretary Ramon M. Lopez, Philippine Ambassador Maria Theresa De Vega, Korea Trade Minister Yeo Han Koo, Members of the National Assembly of Korea, and DTI Undersecretary Ceferino S. Rodolfo. 

Ambassador De Vega in her welcome remarks emphasized the timeliness of the forum especially with the recent conclusion of the FTA negotiations between the Philippines and Korea, “These are exciting times for deepened partnership between the Philippines and the Republic of Korea. Both countries are in the process of bouncing back from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The recent conclusion of negotiations for the Philippine-Korea FTA last October 26, 2021, opens numerous opportunities for Korean companies to do business in the Philippines, especially in the manufacturing sector.”

Secretary Ramon M. Lopez, in his message, also emphasized the breadth and depth of relations between both countries and expressed optimism for a stronger partnership. The Trade Secretary further expressed, “We are optimistic that the FTA will stimulate trade and will provide avenues for Korean companies and industries to diversify and expand their economic interests in the Philippines.”

For his part, ROK Trade Minister Yeo underscored the importance to Korea of ASEAN as an economic bloc and said, “Our cooperation has been elevated to even greater heights since President Moon Jae-in declared the New Southern Policy”.  

As the keynote speaker, Undersecretary Rodolfo discussed the different investment opportunities in the Philippines and mentioned how current Korean companies in the Philippines are taking advantage of the attractive business environment in the country. He also mentioned how Korean companies can benefit from the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises or CREATE Law, which has been in effect since April 11 this year.

On the conclusion of the Philippines-Korea FTA negotiations, DTI Undersecretary Rodolfo said, “This is an opportunity for Korean companies to dominate the Philippine Electric Vehicle market, and once we reach a substantial level of Economies of Scale, Korean companies can put up production and assembly facilities—particularly the more mature vehicle models in the Philippines.”

Philippine Economic Zone Authority Department Manager Emmanuel Cortero also presented the benefits and services offered by PEZA to foreign companies investing in their numerous locations while Mr. Sherwin Nones, Head of Strategy of IMI represented the Philippine private sector and discussed areas for possible collaboration between IMI and Korean companies.

The Forum was organized through the efforts of Segye Media and the Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC) of the Philippine Embassy in Seoul. The hybrid event was also live-streamed via Youtube. END.

Top: Philippine Ambassador to the Republic of Korea, Ambassador Maria Theresa B. Dizon-De Vega delivering the welcome remarks to the 2021 Segye ASEAN Forum. Philippine Trade Minister Ramon Lopez and Undersecretary of Trade and Industry Ceferino Rodolfo joined the forum virtually. ROK Trade Minister Yeo Han Koo is seen seated on stage. (Photo: PTIC_ROK)

PHILIPPINE PARTICIPATION IN G-STAR, THE LARGEST GAMING CONVENTION IN THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA

The Philippines recently participated at the G-Star in Busan, Korea through the ASEAN Korea Pavilion last November 17-19, 2021. The said show is the biggest game event in the Republic of Korea and one of the biggest in the world.

The 10 game companies from the Philippines that were featured in the country booth were Ranida Games, Chikon Club, Taktyl Studios, Squeaky Wheel, Gameops, Assistasia Philippines Inc, Definite Studios, Keywords Studios, Yang Yang Mobile, and Neun Farben.  During the event, Philippine Commercial Counselor Jojie Dinsay represented the companies in the face-to-face meetings at the ASEAN Pavilion while additional meetings were arranged by the participating companies through the online B2B platform of the GStar.

Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega, together with Third Secretary and Vice Consul Reisha Olavario, visited the booth to provide support to the Philippine participants. Prior to the event, Ambassador de Vega also met online with the DTI-Export Marketing Bureau, Game Development Association of the Philippines, and some of the participants to share her insights about the game industry in Korea and its opportunities for Philippine companies.

The Philippines remains one of the attractive outsourcing suppliers of art and customer support services in the creative sector specifically in game development and animation. Recently, a number of companies in the Philippines have developed their own products by strengthening their programming capabilities.

During the GSTAR a number of Korean companies expressed interest in learning more about the Philippine game industry and also suggested that the Philippines develop its capabilities in blockchain technology and metaverse game development as there is an expected strong demand in these fields currently and in the future.

In 2021, the gaming industry revenue is projected to reach US$180.1 Bil and US$256.97 by 2025. According to DTI-EMB, as of this writing, there were 47 business inquiries, and 28 buyers met by the Philippine participants with partial potential sales reported by four (4) companies amounting to USD 3,218,600. Monitoring of sales reports is still being undertaken. END

The Philippine booth at the ASEAN-Korea Centre Pavillion during G-Star 2021. Bottom left: ASEAN-Korea Centre Trade and Investment Unit Joshua Ngooi Teck Hwa, Philippine Commercial Counsellor Jojie Dinsay,

Ambassador Ma. Theresa B. Dizon-De Vega, Vice Consul Reisha Olavario, and AKC officials at the Philippine pavillion. Bottom right: Commercial Counsellor Jojie Dinsay representing PH companies during face-to-face meetings.

NOTICE OF AWARD TO SOOIN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT THE CONTRACT FOR MOVING SERVICE TO PICK-UP UNSERVICEABLE PROPERTIES AT THE EMBASSY

NOTICE OF AWARD

06 December 2021

Dear Mr. Choi,

Please be informed that upon recommendation of the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) of the Philippine Embassy, Seoul, as contained in its Resolution No. 08-2021 dated 12 July 2021, the Embassy is awarding to SOOIN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT the contract for moving service to pick-up unserviceable properties at the Embassy.

You may contact Ms. Anna Gabriella E. Guinto, BAC Secretariat at (02) 796-7387 loc. 312 or email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Very truly yours,

MARIA THERESA B. DIZON-DE VEGA

Ambassador and Head of Procuring Entity                                                                                    

Mr. CHOI JEONGSOO

Representative, Sooin Environmental Improvement

207-01, Wonsan-ri, Haseong-myeon, Gimpo-si

Gimpo-si, Gyeonggi-do

Contact no.: 010-9536-8272 / 010-3581-7815