PEZA boosts trade ties with Poland

The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) has concluded a high-level investment mission to Poland aimed at deepening economic ties and attracting new foreign direct investments (FDIs) from Eastern Europe.

In partnership with the Polish Investment and Trade Agency (PAIH), the Philippine Embassy in Poland, and the Philippine Trade and Investment Center in Berlin, the mission brought together government and private sector stakeholders through forums held in Warsaw and Gdansk.

Philippine Ambassador to Poland Leah Basinang-Ruiz opened the Warsaw leg of the mission, urging greater cooperation between the two countries. PEZA, PAIH consultants, and Polish business leaders discussed areas of collaboration in renewable energy, ICT, and logistics.

In Gdansk, PEZA engaged with regional investment agencies such as Invest in Pomerania and visited innovation and infrastructure hubs including Intel’s R&D center, the University of Gdansk, and the ICTSI-operated Baltic Container Terminal in Gdynia.

Among the key outcomes were confirmed FDI leads in green infrastructure. One consortium of Polish, American, and Filipino firms plans to invest €60 million in a pilot data center in Camarines Norte, featuring renewable energy and water desalination capabilities. The group is also evaluating expansion to other PEZA ecozones.

A Polish tech start-up also expressed interest in local manufacturing, following the pilot of its air and water purification system—developed in collaboration with the University of Gdansk—on a Mindanao farm.

The visit coincides with ongoing Philippines-European Union free trade agreement negotiations and supports the Marcos Jr. administration’s broader agenda to expand strategic trade partnerships.

“We are not merely participants in this transformation—we are leading the charge,” said Trade Secretary Ma. Cristina Roque.

To date, PEZA hosts over 300 European Union locator firms, with one Polish firm active in the IT-BPM sector. Cumulative EU investments in PEZA ecozones exceed %u20B1400 billion, supporting over 500,000 jobs.

Bilateral trade between the Philippines and Poland reached nearly US$620 million in 2024, according to the UN COMTRADE database. Philippine exports—mostly electronics—totaled US$252.92 million, while Polish exports—including dairy, machinery, and paper—reached US$367.11 million. Poland also supplies the Philippines with Black Hawk helicopters.

With both countries among the world’s fastest-growing economies in 2024, the PEZA mission is seen as a strategic step in strengthening economic ties and fostering long-term industrial collaboration.