Global Innovation Alliance welcomes Manila

It will offer training and business matching programmes to Singapore and Philippine companies.

Global Innovation Alliance (GIA), the Singapore-based global network for technology startups, has welcomed Manila as a way to boost the countries’ small businesses.

GIA Manila will facilitate partnerships between Singapore and Manila’s companies, provide them with access to resources and networks within each other’s innovation ecosystems, and plug companies into an extensive GIA network that spans across 15 cities around the world.

The network will also offer various training and business matching programmes to help Singapore and Philippine companies find their footing in each other’s markets.

Minister of State for Trade and Industry Alvin Tan also graced the event. He described the growing relationship between the two countries, highlighting Singapore’s recent expansions in the Philippines – from the traditional consumer and infrastructure sectors to the fast-growing tech and innovation sectors.

Tan added that GIA Manila reflects Singapore and Philippines’ readiness to explore the new frontier together and advance the new economic partnership between the two countries.

“I look forward to continue working closely with our counterparts and industry partners in the Philippines to create new avenues for collaboration. We can build a stronger regional innovation network together, so our startups can jointly benefit from the growing opportunities in Southeast Asia and beyond,” Tan said.

Singapore was the top international investor in the Philippines in 2019 with over US$5b in stock investments.