The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) is stepping up its push to position the Philippines as a regional digital services and innovation hub, using the Digital Health Festival 2026 in Melbourne as a platform to court fresh Australian investments while securing expansion commitments from existing locators.
On the sidelines of the event, PEZA officials met with a mix of technology, outsourcing, aviation, education, and sustainability-focused firms, many of which are either scaling up Philippine operations or exploring entry into the country’s growing digital economy ecosystem.
Among the standout expansion stories was Appen Butler Hill Pty Ltd., an artificial intelligence training support services firm specializing in image labeling and annotation for automated classification systems.
The company said its Philippine workforce has grown from 700 employees in 2007 to more than 2,500 today, supported by roughly P140 million in investments. It is now preparing to add over 1,100 more jobs amid rising global demand for AI-related services.
The growth trajectory mirrors a broader trend benefiting the Philippines: the increasing global appetite for outsourced AI support, data processing, and high-value IT-enabled services. While the country has long been associated with traditional call center operations, PEZA’s latest engagements suggest the investment narrative is gradually shifting toward more specialized, knowledge-intensive functions.
Cloudstaff Pty Ltd., operating locally as CS Global, also reaffirmed its Philippine expansion footprint. The outsourcing and professional support services provider currently employs more than 7,500 workers across multiple PEZA- and Board of Investments-registered sites, underscoring the continued resilience of the IT-BPM sector despite persistent automation concerns.
Meanwhile, A.S. White, which provides IT services, software development, and accounting support, signaled plans to deepen its presence beyond Metro Manila.
Since establishing operations at E-Square IT Park in Taguig in 2016, the company has expanded from 263 employees to 1,308 workers and is projecting the creation of over 300 jobs annually.
It is also exploring opportunities in emerging “new wave cities,” aligning with the government’s strategy to disperse investments beyond traditional business districts.
PEZA’s meetings extended beyond outsourcing and digital services. The agency also engaged with the Financial Advice Association Australia, which is considering Philippine outsourcing support for financial planning services and plans to conduct a study tour in Cebu in August 2026.
Other Australian firms explored potential collaborations in sectors ranging from advanced recycling and hydrogen-electric aircraft development to AI-driven education platforms and aquaculture ventures. These included First Pacific Capital Underwriters, AMSL Aero, Matchboard, Haute Kitchens, MusoLingo, and Plentex.
PEZA Director General Tereso O. Panga said the investment mission highlighted the Philippines’ evolving value proposition to foreign investors.
Rather than competing solely on labor costs, he said, the country is increasingly positioning itself as a strategic partner capable of delivering specialized talent, digital expertise, and scalable business support services.
The numbers suggest Australia remains a meaningful investment partner. As of 2025, PEZA hosts 91 Australian-registered companies with investments exceeding P19 billion and employment generation surpassing 40,000 Filipinos.
The Philippine Pavilion at the Digital Health Festival 2026 was organized by PEZA alongside the Export Marketing Bureau, the Philippine Trade and Investment Center-Sydney, the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions, the IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines, and the Health Information Management Association of the Philippines, featuring eight Philippine companies from the IT-BPM and digital health sectors.
