Trade & Investments

A Philippine-led effort to build a domestic defense manufacturing industry is moving closer to reality, with Stone of Hope Defense (SOHD) seeking government registration for a project that could eventually lead to full-scale local production of firearms and defense equipment.

Ube has gone from a local favorite to an international food phenomenon. Purple lattes, cheesecakes, doughnuts, ice cream and premium desserts have helped fuel a worldwide craze, turning the distinctly Filipino crop into what many now call the latest “purple gold.” The challenge is making sure the world knows where the best ube comes from.

The Philippines is positioning itself for a larger role in the global clean energy transition after the Board of Investments (BOI) and the Island Skies Alliance (ISA) forged a partnership to accelerate the development of a domestic sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) industry.

The Philippines sent a record 300 micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to ProPak Asia 2026 in Bangkok, underscoring a growing recognition that technology adoption is becoming critical to staying competitive in an increasingly demanding market.

The Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (APECO) has secured investment pledges worth P18 billion in less than three years, underscoring growing investor interest in the eastern seaboard ecozone as the government pushes to diversify growth centers and strengthen national economic resilience.