AUSTRALIA'S trade relationship with the Philippines is supported by regional free trade agreements and strong people to people links.
In 2022, two-way trade between the Philippines and Australia is at P302.3 billion and two-way total investment is at P315.7 billion. More than 250 Australian companies are investing in the Philippines; employing over 44,000 Filipinos; building technology, skills and knowledge exchange; growing people to people links and facilitating economic growth.
As strategic partners, Australia and the Philippines are bolstering their shared economic security and expanding two-way trade and investment. Building on the complementary nature of the two economies, and in line with its new Southeast Asia 2040 Strategy, Australia is helping businesses take advantage of meaningful market access opportunities, eliminating barriers to trade and investment, fostering a competitive business environment and pursuing trade facilitation measures to achieve inclusive economic growth for both our countries.
Some of the Australian companies investing in the Philippines include the following:
AMSBB Global
Established in 2008, AMS Global is a leading force in global education services and is consistently awarded as top agent for Philippine students by several Australian universities and colleges.
AMS Global is part of the extensive network of AMS BridgeBlue or AMSBB Group with 34 offices, spanning across 24 countries, and has successfully solidified its position as a prominent player in the global education services industry. By developing its own state-of-the-art platforms and information technology (IT) software, the company has revolutionized the way it provides services and deliver advanced solutions to its clients.
ANZ Bank
Australia and New Zealand (ANZ) Banking Group Ltd. is a leading institutional bank in the Philippines, partnering and serving corporates and financial institutions that drive a significant proportion of economic activity and cross-border business.
It is consistently among the top foreign exchange banks in terms of overall market share and industry recognition. ANZ is strongly committed to developing talent and leadership in the Philippines. Together with onshore ANZ Global Capability Centre, the bank is a leading advocate of financial literacy and corporate sustainability.
Austal
Since 2012, Austal Philippines has completed an impressive 21 commercial vessels for 13 operators from 11 countries, including multiple, award-winning high-speed ferries that are setting new benchmarks for performance, comfort, seakeeping and operability.
In addition to commercial vessels, Austal Philippines has the capability and capacity to design and construct a range of naval ships, including patrol vessels for domestic and international fleets, based on proven Austal platforms operating in Australia, the United States and around the world.
Austal Philippines' skilled local workforce is supported by an established, global supply chain and a leadership team with expertise in all aspects of modern shipbuilding, including project management, engineering and design, procurement, manufacturing, commissioning, testing and in-service support.
Cloudstaff
Cloudstaff is an Australian-owned premium outsourcing provider, offering cost-effective, scalable workforce solutions built on highly skilled staff, modern fully equipped workspaces and Cloudstaff custom-built technology to deliver a seamlessly unified global workforce.
Recognized as one of the fastest growing companies in the Asia Pacific (APAC) region, Cloudstaff employs almost 7,000 staff in the Philippines and has been recognized by multiple awarding bodies as one of the best places to work in the Philippines and Asia.
CPA Australia
CPA Australia is one of the largest professional accounting bodies in the world with more than 172,000 members in over 100 countries and regions, including close to 200 members in the Philippines.
Its core services include education, training, technical support and advocacy. CPA Australia provides thought leadership on local, national and international issues affecting the accounting profession and public interest. It engages with governments, regulators and industries to advocate policies that stimulate sustainable economic growth and have positive business and public outcomes.
Crone Architects
Crone is an award-winning architectural design consulting firm with offices in Sydney and Melbourne, working in markets across Australia and Asia. With a proud heritage combined with a contemporary approach to design, Crone has realized some of Australia's most significant developments, including Sydney Tower and World Square in Sydney.
Crone has established a presence in Manila in the late '90s, undertaking a number of major master planning projects. Crone has designed numerous premier grade high-rise towers in both Manila and Cebu, including Arya Residences in Fort Bonifacio.
Arya Residences has won "Best Residential Architecture Design" and "Best Residential Interior Design" at the Philippine Property Awards. The Arya Residences has also won awards in both the Philippines and South East Asia Property Awards from 2012 to 2014. A highly sustainable development located in Fort Bonifacio, the Arya Residences has certification on Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Gold and Building for Ecologically Responsive Design Excellence.
Deakin University
Deakin University is ranked in the top 1 percent of universities worldwide based, on ShanghaiRankings, and is one of the top 50 young universities in the world, based on Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) world ranking.
Deakin's learning approach puts emphasis on practical experience and its curriculum is informed by the best in industry. DeakinTALENT, Deakin's award-winning career service, helps increase its students' marketability by directly connecting students with prospective employers.
Deakin has welcomed hundreds of Filipino students to their four campuses and is excited to continue this growth in the next coming years.
GHD
GHD is an employee-owned global engineering, environmental and architecture consulting firm that serves the energy, water, resources, environment, transportation and property markets.
Together with an expanded offering in advisory, digital and project management services, GHD partners with its clients from project origination and feasibility study phases up to the operations, decommissioning and closure phases.
GHD offices in Makati City, Cebu City and Quezon City are home to more than 1,000 employees. GHD Philippines provides a wide range of services, including technical due diligence such as energy yield studies; site assessment, including geotechnical and hydrological assessments; oceanographic studies; engineering design, including ports and coastal engineering; stakeholder engagement; environmental permitting and monitoring; owner's engineer and construction supervision; asset management framework development and implementation; and decarbonization or environmental, social and governance strategy development.
Leighton Contractors (Asia) Ltd.
Leighton Asia is a member of Construction, Infrastructure, Mining and Concessions Group, an engineering-led construction, mining services and public-private partnerships leader with a history dating back to 1899.
Leveraging its international expertise and local knowledge, Leighton Asia has successfully delivered world-class infrastructure and enhanced transport network in the Philippines for 27 years, including the Third Candaba Viaduct, Cavite Laguna Expressway Cavite Section, North Luzon Expressway Harbour Link Segment 10 and two sections of North South Commuter Railway – South Commuter Railway Project as well as diversify its presence in the advanced technology sector with the STT Fairview 1 Data Center.
Macquarie
With almost 20 years of commitment in the Philippines, Macquarie has over 1,000 employees in Manila, supporting the organization's global operations across operations, finance, human resources, legal, technology and risk.
It is one of the country's leading infrastructure asset managers and energy advisors, and among the top five foreign brokers in the country.
OceanaGold
OceanaGold Philippines Inc. operates the Didipio Mine, a world-class underground gold copper mine in the provinces of Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino.
OceanaGold is the Philippine Government's mining contractor under a Financial or Technical Assistance Agreement, and the company has been responsibly producing dore and copper concentrates since April 2013. It delivers to the Philippine Central Bank or Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas at least 25 percent of its annual dore production.
Sustainability is fundamental to the way OceanaGold Philippines does business and this remains central to its strategy. This matters to OceanaGold's investors, who increasingly rely on sustainability performance in their valuations, to its employees, who want to work for a purpose driven organization and to its community stakeholders and partners, who expect it to manage the impacts associated with its operations and support solutions to shared global challenges.
This means remaining steadfast to protect the environment and create opportunities to generate long-term value throughout its mine's life cycle, mining gold for a better future.
Orica
Orica is one of the world's leading mining and infrastructure solutions provider. From production and supply of explosives to its blasting systems, mining chemicals and geotechnical monitoring, cutting-edge digital solutions and comprehensive range of services, Orica sustainably mobilizes the earth's resources.
Operating for nearly 150 years, its more than 12,500 global workforce supports customers across surface and underground mines, quarry, construction and oil and gas operations.
With a presence dating back to 1969, Orica Philippines has played a pivotal role in advancing responsible and sustainable mining practices in the country. Initially established as Philippine Explosives and later transitioning to become Orica Philippines in 1999, the company has upheld consistent ownership over the years.
As an integral part of the global Orica network, Orica Philippines has been at the forefront of introducing technology-driven safety measures and environmentally friendly initiatives within the Philippine mining sector.
Privasec
Privasec, a leading independent cybersecurity consultancy firm in Australia and Southeast Asia, has significantly expanded its influence in the Philippines and the broader APAC region.
Privasec is committed to enhancing cybersecurity initiatives in the Philippines by strengthening its market presence through a strategic alliance with the Australian Embassy in the Philippines and key players in the Philippine cybersecurity sector.
As a trusted cybersecurity partner, Privasec empowers businesses to navigate the evolving threat landscape and innovate fearlessly, implementing world-class risk management to bolster business resilience.
With a decade of experience, Privasec's consultants has successfully delivered diverse engagements across various industry sectors, aligning its focus with the specific needs of key sectors in Association of Southeast Asian Nations, including government, financial services, retail, IT, health, entertainment and nonprofit organizations.
Headquartered in Sydney and Singapore, Privasec's reach extends to APAC, Asia, the United States of America and Europe, reaffirming its commitment to fostering a secure and resilient cybersecurity landscape in the region.
Pure-Electric Vehicles (EVs) or ST Baker
Pure-EVs is dedicated to design, assemble and operate a fully sustainable e-mobility transportation in a cost-effective demand-driven business. Its commitment aims to contribute to making a clean Philippine utility vehicle transport industry.
Qantas
Qantas is one of the world's oldest continuously operating airline and one of Australia's most iconic brands with a central role in the development of the Australian and international aviation industry.
In November 2023, Qantas has celebrated its 104th anniversary. Qantas Airways is part of the Qantas Group, a diverse global aviation business, comprising Qantas Domestic, Qantas International, value-based carrier Jetstar Group, Qantas Freight and Qantas Loyalty.
The Qantas Group carries over 50 million passengers each year to more than 1,000 destinations around the world together with its codeshare and oneworld partners.
From Manilla, Qantas offers Business and Economy on direct services to Sydney on its daily A330 service with onward connections to over 65 destinations across Australia and New Zealand.
QBE
QBE Insurance Group is an international insurer and reinsurer with operations in all the key insurance markets. QBE is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange and is headquartered in Sydney.
It employs more than 11,700 people in 27 countries. In the Philippines, QBE's Group Shared Services Centre (GSSC) was established in February 2013 with locations in Manila and Cebu.
The GSSC provides a comprehensive range of insurance services to QBE's customers and brokers across Australia, New Zealand, Europe, North America and Asia Pacific, including underwriting support, policy servicing, claims, credit control and customer service.
Over the years, the GSSC continues to provide more knowledge processing services such as finance, technology and human resource delivery to QBE businesses globally. It is advancing its internal services with the introduction of change-as-a-service in project management, business process engineering, robotics automation and data analytics.
Telstra
Telstra is a global technology company that empowers businesses to thrive in a connected world through innovative technology solutions, including data and internet protocol networks and network application services such as managed networks, unified communications, cloud, industry solutions, integrated software applications and services and network-as-a-service.
These services are underpinned by Telstra's subsea cable network with licences in Asia, Europe and the Americas, and access to more than 2,000 points of presences in more than 200 countries and territories globally.
Telstra's heritage is proudly Australian, but it has a longstanding international business with a focus on the Asia-Pacific region. Today, it has approximately 3,500 employees, based in 20 countries outside of Australia with a significant headcount in Asia, providing services to thousands of business, government, carrier and over-the-top customers.
Over several decades, Telstra has established the largest wholly owned subsea cable network in the APAC with a unique and diverse set of infrastructure that offers access to the most intra-Asia lit capacity.
University of Adelaide
Established in 1874, the university of Adelaide is the third oldest university in Australia, and home to over 30,000 students and 3,000 staff.
The university is recognized globally as a leading research institution and is ranked in the world's top 100 universities, including number 88 in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings in 2023 and number 89 in QS World University Rankings in 2024.
The university is a member of Australia's prestigious Group of Eight — an association of world leading research intensive Australian Universities — and has a proven track record of successful collaboration with industry and government, nationally and internationally.
The university has an expanding profile in the Philippines, involving partnerships across the country that promote diverse education and research initiatives. Partnership agreements are in place to support academic collaboration and professional training. The university welcomes opportunities to deepen relationships with agencies, organizations and universities in the Philippines.
Western Australia Government
The Government of Western Australia, through Invest and Trade Western Australia, provides a front door to assist investors and customers to do business with WA's world-leading industries.
Western Australia is an ancient and energetic land, brimming with abundant resources to invest, a thriving economy to work, globally recognized institutions for study and unique landscapes to experience like no other.
Worley Power Services Asia
Worley is a leading global provider of professional project and asset services in the energy, chemicals and resources sector, headquartered in Australia. Worley uses knowledge and capabilities to help its customers reduce its emissions and move toward a more sustainable future.
Worley employs nearly 50,000 people across 45 countries and its purpose is delivering a more sustainable world. It partners with its customers to deliver projects and create value over the life of its portfolio of assets.
Worley solves complex problems by finding integrated data-centric solutions from the first stages of consulting and engineering to installation and commissioning, to the last stages of decommissioning and remediation.
Right now, Worley is bridging two worlds as it accelerates to more sustainable energy sources while helping its customers provide the energy, chemicals and resources that society needs.