PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday urged the pursuit of a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) between the Philippines and India to expand market access and strengthen supply chain resilience.
Speaking at the Philippines-India CEO Roundtable in New Delhi, Marcos directed the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to lead talks with its Indian counterparts and “lay a strong foundation for deeper, more predictable, and mutually beneficial economic integration.”
The proposed deal would institutionalize facilitation mechanisms and deepen ties in sectors where the two countries have strong complementarities.
Marcos called for the early convening of a joint working group on trade and investment, which could be further divided into specific industry groups “so that you’re talking apples to apples, oranges to oranges.”
The roundtable — organized by the DTI and India’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry — brought together 17 executives from both countries, representing IT-BPM, infrastructure, healthcare, and other industries.
Marcos highlighted shared growth prospects, ongoing legislative reforms, and fresh initiatives to boost bilateral trade and investments. He urged Indian firms to explore opportunities in semiconductors, digital technology, infrastructure, renewable energy, pharmaceuticals and healthcare.
Beyond promoting the Philippines as an investment hub, Marcos said the meeting aimed to listen to industry needs and respond with targeted policies.
He cited reforms under his administration such as Executive Order 18 creating investment “green lanes,” the Public–Private Partnership Code, amendments to the Renewable Energy Act, and the CREATE MORE Act.
The president also pointed to the new Enterprise-Based Education and Training Framework Act to enhance worker skills and competitiveness, reporting that bilateral trade hit $3.3 billion from 2024 to 2025 alongside a 5.7 percent GDP growth in 2024.
